seven students cut $5\frac{3}{4}$ inches of thread from a spool for a school project. what number represents…

seven students cut $5\frac{3}{4}$ inches of thread from a spool for a school project. what number represents the change in the amount of the thread on the spool?\n- $-40\frac{1}{4}$ inches\n- $-35\frac{3}{4}$ inches\n- $-29\frac{3}{4}$ inches\n- $-26\frac{1}{4}$ inches

seven students cut $5\frac{3}{4}$ inches of thread from a spool for a school project. what number represents the change in the amount of the thread on the spool?\n- $-40\frac{1}{4}$ inches\n- $-35\frac{3}{4}$ inches\n- $-29\frac{3}{4}$ inches\n- $-26\frac{1}{4}$ inches

Answer

Explanation:

Step1: Convert mixed - number to improper fraction

The length of thread each student cuts is $5\frac{3}{4}$ inches. Convert it to an improper fraction: $5\frac{3}{4}=\frac{5\times4 + 3}{4}=\frac{20+3}{4}=\frac{23}{4}$ inches.

Step2: Calculate total length of thread cut

There are 7 students. Multiply the length of thread each student cuts by the number of students. The total length of thread cut is $7\times\frac{23}{4}=\frac{161}{4}$ inches.

Step3: Convert result back to mixed - number

$\frac{161}{4}=40\frac{1}{4}$ inches. Since the thread is being cut from the spool, the change in the amount of thread on the spool is a decrease, so it is $- 40\frac{1}{4}$ inches.

Answer:

-40$\frac{1}{4}$ inches