Achef had to fill up 2 1/2 containers with mashed
potatoes. he ended up using 2 1/2 pounds of
mashed potatoes. how many pounds would he use if
he had to fill up 3 containers?

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, convert:

2

1

4

to  

2.25

3

1

2

to  

3.5

We can now write this problem as a ratio:

3.5

pounds  

→

2.25

contains  

:

p

→

3

containers

We can now write this as an equation and solve for  

p

pounds:

p

3

=

3.5

2.25

3

×

p

3

=

3

×

3.5

2.25

3

×

p

3

=

10.5

2.25

p

=

4

.

¯

6

4

.

¯

6

=

4

2

3

Chef would need  

4

2

3

pounds of potatoes to fill 3 containers

Step-by-step explanation:

because linear equations are a lot simpler than quadratics equations, and linear equations formula is a lot easier to memorize. that's why i think they're harder.