Q1: If 4 cups of break crumbs = 28 saltines crackers, how many saltines are equal to 1 cup of bread crumbs?
A1: We set this up as a proportion:
4 cup of bread crumbs / 28 saltines = 1 cup of bread crumbs / ? saltines
Mathematically, we replace the ? with an x and leave out the words to solve:
4/28 = 1/x
Next. we “cross multiple”: meaning to multiply across the equal sign. To help, the reds multiply each other and the blues multiply each other:
4 / 28 = 1 / x
4*x = 28 * 1
4*x = 28 [Now, divide both sides by 4]
x = 7.
7 saltines.
Q2: If 2 cups whipped cream = 1 cup heavy cream, how many cups of heavy cream are equal to 1 cup of whipped cream?
A2: Same set up:
2 c whipped / 1 c whipped = 1 cup heavy / ? cups heavy
2/1 = 1/x
2*x = 1*1
2x = 1
x = 1/2
1/2 cups of heavy cream!