Can someone explain to me how to figure out this problem?

two students can eat 4 doughnuts in 6 minutes. at this rate how many doughnuts will be eaten by 8 studentes in 9 minutes?

Question

Can someone explain to me how to figure out this problem?

two students can eat 4 doughnuts in 6 minutes. at this rate how many doughnuts will be eaten by 8 studentes in 9 minutes?

asnaseer · Answer

2 eat 4 in 6 mins
so 1 eats 2 in 6 mins
so 1 eats 2/6 per min
so 8 eat 8*2/6 per min
so 8 eat 8*2/6*9 in 9 mins

anonymous · Answer

the answer is supposed to be 24 but idk how to get it

asnaseer · Answer

jcmarie - 24 is the answer I got ...

asnaseer · Answer

8*(2/6)*9

anonymous · Answer

but why did u do tht?

asnaseer · Answer

look at the steps I listed above - do you understand them?

anonymous · Answer

yeah but why did u do those steps?

asnaseer · Answer

ok, lets look at them one at a time...

asnaseer · Answer

2 students eat 4 in 6 minutes - that is given

asnaseer · Answer

therefore 1 student must have eaten half as much in the same time,
i.e. 1 student ate 2 in 6 minutes
does that make sense?

anonymous · Answer

so far yes

asnaseer · Answer

ok - good
so now we can say that 1 student ate $\frac{2}{6}$ of a doughnut in 1 minute
does that make sense?

anonymous · Answer

yup

asnaseer · Answer

good
next we can infer that 8 students can eat 8 times as 1 student can per minute
so 8 students eat $8*\frac{2}{6}$ doughnuts per minute

anonymous · Answer

ok...and then u multiply it by 9 to find what they would eat in 9 minutes?

asnaseer · Answer

perfect - you got it!
well done!

anonymous · Answer

thank u soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much!!!

asnaseer · Answer

:D - yw
I'm glad I was able to explain it well enough for you to understand.