This in on my son's homework sheet and we can't figure it out.
The ratio of mango juice to guava juice in paradise punch is 5 to 3. Leilani has 32 fl oz of mango juice. How much guava juice does she need?

By Tink on Thursday, November 29, 2007 - 09:51 pm:

I would divide 32 by 5 and that equals 6.4. Multiply 6.4 by 3 and you get 19.2 fl oz of guava juice. I think Heidi would be able to do a better job of explaining it, as far as cross multiplying, etc but that seems to be the correct answer.

By Shellyg on Thursday, November 29, 2007 - 10:23 pm:

My son just ran in and saw what you wrote and told me to tell you that "Tink Rocks"! Thank you!

By Mrsheidi on Thursday, November 29, 2007 - 11:27 pm:

Hey Shelly and Tink...make sure he understands the process so he can get other questions like this one correct:
You have to set up a ratio equation like this:
(Reminder, any ratio problems are set up like a/b=c/d) where a and c are the same elements (ie a specific juice) and b and d are the same too.
mango/guava= mango/guava

So, in this question you have to set up what you know:
mango 5/paradise 3= mango 32/paradise x

ie: 5/3=32/x (I hate having to type it like that but write it normal on a piece of paper.)

cross multiply and you get your answer:
5x=3 x 32
5x=96
solve for x by dividing
x=96/5

which is...19.2 and don't forget your units (ie, fl oz) in your answer.


so, to test his knowledge...

let's do another one... 5 parts white wine to 2 parts tomato juice in a sauce. How many parts of tomato juice will I need if I have 30 parts white wine?

By Dawnk777 on Friday, November 30, 2007 - 01:22 am:

OOh, I love math questions, but it's time for bed, and I don't have time to figure it. MAybe sometime tomorrow!

By Enchens on Friday, November 30, 2007 - 02:17 am:

12?

By Shellyg on Friday, November 30, 2007 - 11:38 am:

Oh darn, I missed this last night. I'll have to show my son when he gets home. Makes much more sense, thanks!

By Mrsheidi on Friday, November 30, 2007 - 05:59 pm:

Sure! I wish I could tutor online somehow. I tried to get my brother to set up a system and get paid thru paypal, but it's expensive. Plus, I wouldn't be sure if the student was *actually* understanding it and just paid for the "answer".

Momsview chicks and their kidlets are FREE though! LOL

By Mrsheidi on Friday, November 30, 2007 - 06:02 pm:

ha ha ha...just thought of a funny answer to my question above: (adult humor)

"Who needs tomato juice when you have all that wine??" LOL Ok, I'm tired...

let me know what his answer is and i'll try to get online tonight or tomorrow to confirm it. i'd rather he know the process and get it correct on a test, etc.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, November 30, 2007 - 08:01 pm:

Yeap, I got the answer to both problems. Sometimes I had to use ratios at work to figure out medication dosages.

By Shellyg on Saturday, December 1, 2007 - 11:38 am:

O.K., he just did it and his answer is 1.2

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, December 1, 2007 - 12:30 pm:

It should be a whole number, though, for the second problem.

xxxxx --
xxxxx --
xxxxx --
xxxxx --
xxxxx --
xxxxx --

X being the parts of wine and -- being the parts of tomato juice. There are 30 x's and 12 --.

By Mrsheidi on Saturday, December 1, 2007 - 07:54 pm:

The answer is 12

5/2=30/t (white wine/tomato juice on both sides)

cross multiply 30 x 2 = t x 5

60=5t

60/5=t

12=t