A4 1/2 foot long wire is being cut into smaller pieces that are 1 1/4 feet long. what is the maximum number of smaller pieces of wire that can be cut from the original piece of wire?

Divide total length by the length of the pieces to equal number of pieces.

= 4 1/2 ÷ 1 1/4
convert to improper fractions
= 9/2 ÷ 5/4
multiply by reciprocal of 5/4
= 9/2 * 4/5
= 36/10
simplify by 2
= 18/5
change to mixed number
= 3 3/5

ANSWER: 3 3/5 is the maximum number of pieces that can be cut, but if considering maximum number of FULL pieces that can be cut, it is 3 with 3/5 of a partial piece left.

Hope this helps! :)