Question

A small can of paint was `1/8` of a liter. That was enough to fill `1/10` of a paint sprayer. How many cans of paint would it take to completely fill the sprayer?

Answer 1

10 cans of paint would be required to completely fill the sprayer.

Explanation:

It is given that one small can of paint is enough to fill `1/10` of a paint sprayer. Since the entire sprayer represents the whole, or 1, it will equal `10/10` . Thus, the expression `10/10 divide 1/10` can be written. This equals `10/10 * 10/1` , which yields `100/10` , or 10 when simplified. The fact that the can of paint can contain `1/8` of a liter is extra information, though it can be concluded that it takes 1 `2/8` (or 1 `1/4`) liters to fill the sprayer, as you can multiply `1/8` by 10.

Answer 2

10 cans

Explanation:

You are trying to solve for when the sprayer is full, or at 100%. This can also be written as `100/100` or just simply `1`.

The size of the paint can is irrelevant in this problem.

If 1 can fills `1/10` of the sprayer, 2 cans will fill `2/10` of the sprayer.

We can continue this pattern to 10 cans at `10/10`

`10/10` also is equal to 1 so this is your answer, 10 cans.