A jar at the fishing shop holds 72 worms. A cup holds 8 worms. How many times as many worms does the jar hold than the cup? Choose the equation that best represents the problem. 72 = 8= t 72 x 8 = t 72 – 8=t 72 +8=t
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct answer:
The correct equation that best represents the problem is:
72 ÷ 8 = t
Explanation
This problem is asking how many times as many worms the jar holds compared to the cup. When a question asks “how many times as many”, it’s referring to division. We want to find how many times the smaller quantity (8 worms in the cup) goes into the larger quantity (72 worms in the jar).
Step-by-step breakdown:
- The jar holds 72 worms.
- The cup holds 8 worms.
- We are trying to find how many cups’ worth of worms are in the jar.
- In other words, how many 8s go into 72.
This is a division problem, and the equation that shows this is:
72 ÷ 8 = t, where t represents the number of times as many worms the jar holds.
Solving the equation:
72 ÷ 8 = 9
So, t = 9
That means the jar holds 9 times as many worms as the cup.
Why other options are incorrect:
- 72 = 8 = t → This is not a valid mathematical equation.
- 72 × 8 = t → This would mean multiplying the number of worms in the jar and the cup, which gives how many worms would be in 8 jars or 72 cups, which is not what’s asked.
- 72 – 8 = t → This would find the difference in the number of worms between the jar and the cup, not how many times as many.
- 72 + 8 = t → This would add the two numbers, again not relevant to the “how many times” question.
Conclusion:
The correct and most accurate representation of the problem is:
72 ÷ 8 = t
Answer: t = 9
The jar holds 9 times as many worms as the cup.
