Jordan has to solve this division problem: 42 divided by 7 = ?
Which of the following equations can he use?
42 + 7 = ?
7 x 42 = ?
? x 7 = 42
7 divided by 42 = ?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
To solve the division problem (42 \div 7 = ?), Jordan can utilize the equation (? \times 7 = 42). This equation is a way to express division using multiplication, which is particularly useful because division and multiplication are inverse operations.
When we say (42 \div 7), we are looking for a number (let’s call it (x)) such that when we multiply it by 7, we get 42. This can be formulated as:
[
x \times 7 = 42
]
To find (x), Jordan needs to isolate (x) in the equation. He can do this by dividing both sides of the equation by 7:
[
x = \frac{42}{7}
]
Calculating this gives:
[
x = 6
]
Thus, (42 \div 7 = 6).
Let’s examine the other options given to Jordan:
- (42 + 7 = ?): This equation represents addition, which is unrelated to the division problem. It would give the sum of 42 and 7, which is 49, but does not help in solving (42 \div 7).
- (7 \times 42 = ?): This is a multiplication problem and would yield a product of 294. While it involves the numbers 7 and 42, it does not relate to finding how many times 7 fits into 42.
- (7 \div 42 = ?): This equation represents the division of 7 by 42, which is a completely different operation. It would yield a result of ( \frac{1}{6} ), indicating how much smaller 7 is compared to 42, rather than how many times 7 fits into 42.
In conclusion, the appropriate equation Jordan can use to solve (42 \div 7) is (? \times 7 = 42), leading him to find that the answer is 6. Understanding these relationships between multiplication and division is crucial for effectively solving problems in arithmetic.