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!