There are 4500 people in Springfield. 1/3 of the population of Springfield are under the age of 21. how many people are under 21 in Springfield
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
To find how many people in Springfield are under the age of 21: Total population=4500Fraction under 21=13\text{Total population} = 4500 \\ \text{Fraction under 21} = \frac{1}{3} 13×4500=1500\frac{1}{3} \times 4500 = 1500
Answer: 1,500 people in Springfield are under the age of 21.
Explanation:
To solve this problem, we begin by understanding the key pieces of information provided:
- The total population of Springfield is 4,500 people.
- One-third of this population is under the age of 21.
When a problem involves a fraction of a whole, we can find the portion it represents by multiplying the total amount by that fraction. In this case, we are looking for one-third of 4,500. Mathematically, this is written as: 13×4500\frac{1}{3} \times 4500
To do this, divide 4,500 by 3: 4500÷3=15004500 \div 3 = 1500
This means that 1,500 people out of the total 4,500 are under the age of 21. This is a straightforward application of fractional reasoning, where you determine part of a whole using multiplication or division.
Understanding proportions like this is important in real-world situations. For example, if a city planner in Springfield needs to allocate resources for schools, youth programs, or pediatric healthcare, knowing that 1/3 of the population is under 21 helps make informed decisions. It also shows the importance of being able to interpret and use simple fractions in practical contexts.
In summary, by applying the concept of finding a fraction of a whole—dividing 4,500 by 3—we arrive at the correct and logical answer: 1,500 people in Springfield are under 21 years of age.
