Hey there, math enthusiasts! Today, we're tackling a real-world division problem involving tons and pounds. It might seem a little tricky at first, but don't worry, we'll break it down step by step. Our goal is to figure out the result of dividing 6 tons and 284 pounds by 3,071. So, let's dive in and see how we can solve this! Let's see how we can untangle this problem and find the correct answer together.
Understanding the Problem
Before we jump into the calculations, let's make sure we understand the problem clearly. We have a total weight of 6 tons and 284 pounds, and we want to divide this weight into 3,071 equal parts. The question is, how much will each of those parts weigh? To solve this, we need to perform a division, but first, we need to make sure our units are consistent. We can't directly divide tons and pounds, so we need to convert everything into a single unit. The most logical unit here is pounds since we can easily convert tons into pounds. Remember, 1 ton is equal to 2,000 pounds. This conversion factor is crucial for solving this problem accurately. By converting everything to pounds, we can perform the division more easily and arrive at the correct answer. So, let's get started with the conversion process and then move on to the division.
Converting Tons to Pounds
The first step in solving this problem is to convert the weight from tons and pounds into just pounds. We know that 1 ton equals 2,000 pounds. So, to convert 6 tons into pounds, we simply multiply 6 by 2,000. This gives us:
Now we know that 6 tons is equal to 12,000 pounds. But we're not done yet! We also have an additional 284 pounds to add to this total. So, we add the 284 pounds to the 12,000 pounds we just calculated:
So, the total weight we're working with is 12,284 pounds. Now that we have the total weight in a single unit (pounds), we can move on to the next step: dividing this total weight by 3,071. This will give us the weight of each of the 3,071 equal parts we're trying to find. By converting to a single unit, we've simplified the problem and made it much easier to solve. Let's move on to the division and find our answer!
Performing the Division
Now that we have the total weight in pounds (12,284 pounds), we can perform the division. We need to divide 12,284 pounds by 3,071. This will tell us how much each of the 3,071 parts weighs. Let's set up the division:
To perform this division, we can use long division or a calculator. If you're doing it by hand, long division is the way to go. If you have a calculator handy, you can simply enter 12,284 divided by 3,071. Either way, the result we get is approximately:
So, when we divide 12,284 pounds by 3,071, we get approximately 4. This means that each of the 3,071 parts weighs about 4 pounds. Now that we've done the calculation, let's think about what this answer means in the context of the problem. We started with 6 tons and 284 pounds, divided it into 3,071 parts, and found that each part weighs about 4 pounds. This seems like a reasonable answer, and it matches one of the options given. Let's move on to the final step: selecting the correct answer from the choices provided.
Selecting the Correct Answer
Alright, we've done the hard work of converting units and performing the division. Now it's time to choose the correct answer from the options given. Let's recap what we've found:
We started with 6 tons and 284 pounds. We converted this to 12,284 pounds. We divided 12,284 pounds by 3,071. We found that the result is approximately 4 pounds. Now, let's look at the options:
4 lb 2 lb 5 lb 3 lb Our calculation showed that the answer is approximately 4 pounds. Looking at the options, we can see that 4 lb is one of the choices. The other options (2 lb, 5 lb, and 3 lb) are not close to our calculated answer. Therefore, the correct answer is 4 lb. We've successfully solved the problem by converting units, performing the division, and selecting the correct answer. Great job, everyone! Let's celebrate this victory and move on to the next math challenge.
So, the correct answer is:
4 lb
Conclusion
Great job, everyone! We've successfully solved this division problem involving tons and pounds. Remember, the key to solving these kinds of problems is to ensure that all the units are consistent before performing any calculations. We converted tons to pounds, added the extra pounds, and then divided the total weight by the given number. This systematic approach helped us arrive at the correct answer: 4 pounds. Math problems like these might seem daunting at first, but by breaking them down into smaller, manageable steps, we can tackle anything! Keep practicing, and you'll become a math whiz in no time. And hey, if you ever get stuck, remember there are plenty of resources out there to help you, including online tutorials, math forums, and even friends and teachers who can lend a hand. So keep your chin up, stay curious, and never stop learning!
Now you have a solid understanding of how to solve this type of division problem. Keep practicing, and you'll master it in no time! If you have any more questions or want to try another problem, just let me know. Keep up the great work!