# Thread: Multiplying & Dividing Fractions - Application

1. ## Multiplying & Dividing Fractions - Application

From the book: "A special on a cruise to the Bahamas is advertised to be $\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}$ of the regular price. If the regular price is $2757, what is the sale price?" I know I veered way off course at some point here, but I couldn't find any common factors to divide out. My answer:$\displaystyle x = sale\ price\displaystyle x = 2,757 \div \frac{2}{3}\displaystyle = \frac{2,757}{1} \div \frac{2}{3} = \frac{2,757}{1} \cdot \frac{3}{2} = \frac{2,757 \cdot 3}{1 \cdot 2} = \frac{8,271}{2}$2. Originally Posted by Euclid Alexandria From the book: "A special on a cruise to the Bahamas is advertised to be$\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}$of the regular price. If the regular price is$2757, what is the sale price?"

I know I veered way off course at some point here, but I couldn't find any common factors to divide out.

$\displaystyle x = sale\ price$

$\displaystyle x = 2,757 \div \frac{2}{3}$

$\displaystyle = \frac{2,757}{1} \div \frac{2}{3} = \frac{2,757}{1} \cdot \frac{3}{2} = \frac{2,757 \cdot 3}{1 \cdot 2} = \frac{8,271}{2}$
You divided by 2/3 when you should have multiplied. As a check, note that the sale price should be less than the regular price.

sale price = \displaystyle 2757*\frac{2}{3} = \frac{5514}{3}$=$1838

-Dan

3. ## Thanks for getting me unstuck!

Originally Posted by topsquark
As a check, note that the sale price should be less than the regular price.
Yeah that's what tipped me off that I'd goofed up. I know the key word in the application is the word of, but at some point I started incorrectly thinking that meant "divide."

4. Here's another application using the word of, except this time, multiplying isn't seeming to work at first glance. I was expecting to end up with a whole number/dollar amount. Any hints on where I'm going wrong?

From the book: "The Gonzales recently sold their house for $102,000, but$\displaystyle \frac{3}{50}$of this amount goes to the real estate companies that helped them sell their house. How much money do the Gonzales pay to the real estate companies?" My answer$\displaystyle x = 102,000\displaystyle = \frac{3}{50} \cdot \frac{102,000}{1} = \frac{3 \cdot 34,000}{50 \cdot 1} = \frac{102,000}{50}$5. Originally Posted by Euclid Alexandria Here's another application using the word of, except this time, multiplying isn't seeming to work at first glance. I was expecting to end up with a whole number/dollar amount. Any hints on where I'm going wrong? From the book: "The Gonzales recently sold their house for$102,000, but $\displaystyle \frac{3}{50}$ of this amount goes to the real estate companies that helped them sell their house. How much money do the Gonzales pay to the real estate companies?"

$\displaystyle x = 102,000$

$\displaystyle = \frac{3}{50} \cdot \frac{102,000}{1} = \frac{3 \cdot 34,000}{50 \cdot 1} = \frac{102,000}{50}$
You've done the work right, except that $\displaystyle \frac{3}{50} \cdot \frac{102,000}{1} \neq \frac{3 \cdot 34,000}{50 \cdot 1}$ it really is $\displaystyle \frac{3}{50} \cdot \frac{102,000}{1} = \frac{3 \cdot 102,000}{50 \cdot 1}$

with that in mind, the rest is easy...

$\displaystyle \frac{3\cdot102,000}{50\cdot1}$

$\displaystyle \frac{306,000}{50}$

$\displaystyle 6,120$

so the amount payed to the real-estate company is \$6,120.

6. Thanks.

I either need to

A) Get more sleep, or
B) Drink more Monster.

Obviously, I divided. Again. Even after inserting a multiplication symbol.