Word Problem Wednesday: Quack!

Sep 9, 2016 | Burlingame

This Word Problem Wednesday is quack-tastic, to say the least! Try solving our word problem; we'll update with the answer tomorrow.

Three bunches of grapes are enough to feed 8 adult ducks or 16 ducklings. How many bunches of grapes are needed to feed 6 adult ducks and 12 ducklings?

Update:
Answer: 4½ bunches of grapes

Three bunches of grapes can be divided among 8 ducks, so each duck gets 3 ÷ 8 = 3/8 of a bunch of grapes. Because 16 ducklings eat the same amount of grapes as 8 ducks, each duckling must eat half as many as an adult. So, 12 ducklings eat the same amount as 6 adults. That means that 6 ducks + 12 ducklings eat the same amount as 6 ducks + 6 ducks = 12 ducks. Twelve ducks eat 12 × 3/8 = 41/2 bunches of grapes.