Question

A packet of sugar weighing 5 kg is required to balance the weight of 2 pumpkins of equal mass. What is the weight of each pumpkin?

Answer 1

Weight of the packet of sugar = 5 kg

Since the scale is balanced, the sum of the weights of the two pumpkins must also be 5 kg.

Total weight of the 2 pumpkins
= 5 kg

Since the pumpkins are of equal mass, each must weigh $\frac{5}{2}$ kg.

Weight of each pumpkin
= $(5÷2)\text{kg}$


To express this as a mixed number, we have:

• Quotient = Number of wholes = 2
• Remainder = Numerator of the fractional part = 1
• Divisor = Denominator of the fractional part = 2

$\therefore 5÷2$ = 2$\frac{1}{2}$

$\therefore$ Each pumpkin weighs 2$\frac{1}{2}$ kg.