Question

self assessment
check your learning: application of unit rates
question 1
respond to the following based on your reading.
rachel paints $5\frac{1}{2}$ square meters of wall space in $\frac{1}{3}$ hour. what area of wall space can she paint in 1 hour?

Explanation:

Step1: Convert mixed number to improper fraction

\(5\frac{1}{2}=\frac{5\times2 + 1}{2}=\frac{11}{2}\)

Step2: Find unit rate (area per hour)

To find the area painted in 1 hour, we divide the area painted (\(\frac{11}{2}\) square meters) by the time taken (\(\frac{1}{3}\) hour). Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal. So, \(\frac{11}{2}\div\frac{1}{3}=\frac{11}{2}\times3=\frac{33}{2}\)

Step3: Convert back to mixed number (optional)

\(\frac{33}{2}=16\frac{1}{2}\)

Answer:

\(16\frac{1}{2}\) square meters (or \(\frac{33}{2}\) square meters)