Marcus has $5 \frac{1}{2}$ pounds of flour on hand... | Free GMAT Practice Question | GMAT Panda

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Marcus has 5 \frac{1}{2} pounds of flour on hand. He bakes 3 loaves of bread, each requiring 1 \frac{1}{4} pounds of flour. Which of the following describes the amount of flour remaining?

Explanation	Calculations	Help
$We name the total flour Marcus has as a variable.$	$F_{initial} = 5 \frac{1}{2} pounds$	Theory & Tactics Method Card TRANS1-A Click to view full details
$We convert the mixed number to an improper fraction.$	$5 \frac{1}{2} = \frac{5 \times 2 + 1}{2} \frac{11}{2} pounds$
$We translate "each requiring 1 \frac{1}{4} pounds of flour" into the flour used per loaf.$	$f_{per loaf} = 1 \frac{1}{4} pounds$	Theory & Tactics Method Card TRANS2-B Click to view full details
$We convert this mixed number to an improper fraction.$	$1 \frac{1}{4} = \frac{1 \times 4 + 1}{4} \frac{5}{4} pounds$
$We calculate the total flour used for 3 loaves by multiplying the fraction by 3.$	$f_{used} = 3 \times \frac{5}{4} = \frac{15}{4} pounds$
$We subtract the flour used from the initial amount to find the remaining flour.$	$F_{remaining} = \frac{11}{2} - \frac{15}{4} = \frac{22}{4} - \frac{15}{4} = \frac{7}{4} pounds$	Theory & Tactics Method Card TRANS1-D Click to view full details
$We convert the improper fraction to a mixed number to see its size.$	$\frac{7}{4} = 1 \frac{3}{4} pounds$
$We see that 1 \frac{3}{4} pounds matches choice D.$	$Answer D$

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D

Marcus has 5 \frac{1}{2} pounds of flour on hand. He bakes 3 loaves of bread, each requiring 1 \frac{1}{4} pounds of flour. Which of the following describes the amount of flour remaining?

Explanation	Calculations	Help
$We name the total flour Marcus has as a variable.$	$F_{initial} = 5 \frac{1}{2} pounds$	Theory & Tactics Method Card TRANS1-A Click to view full details
$We convert the mixed number to an improper fraction.$	$5 \frac{1}{2} = \frac{5 \times 2 + 1}{2} \frac{11}{2} pounds$
$We translate "each requiring 1 \frac{1}{4} pounds of flour" into the flour used per loaf.$	$f_{per loaf} = 1 \frac{1}{4} pounds$	Theory & Tactics Method Card TRANS2-B Click to view full details
$We convert this mixed number to an improper fraction.$	$1 \frac{1}{4} = \frac{1 \times 4 + 1}{4} \frac{5}{4} pounds$
$We calculate the total flour used for 3 loaves by multiplying the fraction by 3.$	$f_{used} = 3 \times \frac{5}{4} = \frac{15}{4} pounds$
$We subtract the flour used from the initial amount to find the remaining flour.$	$F_{remaining} = \frac{11}{2} - \frac{15}{4} = \frac{22}{4} - \frac{15}{4} = \frac{7}{4} pounds$	Theory & Tactics Method Card TRANS1-D Click to view full details
$We convert the improper fraction to a mixed number to see its size.$	$\frac{7}{4} = 1 \frac{3}{4} pounds$
$We see that 1 \frac{3}{4} pounds matches choice D.$	$Answer D$

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D