Question

How much chocolate chip cookies each person would get if 40 cookies are to be distributed equally among 12 people.

• A. $3\frac{1}{3}$
• B. $3\frac{3}{1}$
• C. $1\frac{3}{3}$

Answer 1

The correct option is A $3\frac{1}{3}$

Number of chocolate chip cookies $=40$
Number of people $=12$
Let's solve it using repeated subtraction method.
Each person would get $\frac{40}{12}$ cookies.
Give each person 1 cookie

Step	Dividend	Divisor	Operation
1	40	12	$40-12=28$

Step	Dividend	Divisor	Operation
1	40	12	$40-12=28$
2	28	12	$28-12=16$

Step	Dividend	Divisor	Operation
1	40	12	$40-12=28$
2	28	12	$28-12=16$
3	16	12	$16-12=4$

As $4<12$, we cannot subtract 4 from 12. Hence, each person got 3 cookies.
Now, we have to distribute the remaining 4 cookies among 12 people equally.
Each person would get $\frac{4}{12}$ of the cookies.
$\frac{4}{12}=\frac{4\times 1}{4\times 3}=\frac{1}{3}$

Each person will get $\frac{1}{3}$ cookie out of the 4 remaining cookies.

Each person would get 3 and $\frac{1}{3}$ of the cookie which is equal to $3\frac{1}{3}$ cookies.

Hence, Each person would get $3\frac{1}{3}$ cookies.