Operations & Word Problems

Problem

Add poured water to find total capacity

A jug starts with 11 cups 2 fl oz of lemonade. A small cup of lemonade is filled to the brim and poured in 5 times. The jug then holds 13 cups 1 fl oz. Find the capacity of the small cup in fluid ounces, where 1 cup = 8 fl oz.
Measurement & data
Your answer
fl oz
How to solve
Strategy Analyze the Units — Convert both amounts to fluid ounces, subtract to find the total amount poured in, then divide that by 5 equal pours to get the small cup's capacity.
1STEP 1

Convert both amounts to fluid ounces

Since 1 cup = 8 fl oz, the start 11 cups 2 fl oz = 11 x 8 + 2 = 90 fl oz, and the end 13 cups 1 fl oz = 13 x 8 + 1 = 105 fl oz.

11 × 8 + 2 = 90, 13 × 8 + 1 = 105
2STEP 2

Find the total lemonade poured in

The jug grew from 90 fl oz to 105 fl oz, so the 5 pours added 105 - 90 = 15 fl oz altogether.

105 - 90 = 15 fl oz
3STEP 3

Divide the total by the number of pours

All 5 pours were equal full cups, so each cup holds 15 divided by 5 = 3 fl oz.

15 ÷ 5 = 3 fl oz
Answer
3 fl oz
15 ÷ 5 = 3
Five cups of 3 fl oz add 5 x 3 = 15 fl oz, and 90 + 15 = 105 fl oz = 13 cups 1 fl oz, which matches the final amount, so 3 fl oz is correct.
Takeaway

This only needs Grade 3 sense: find how much the jug grew, then split it into 5 equal cups!

  • Convert both amounts to fluid ounces
  • Find the total lemonade poured in
  • Divide the total by the number of pours
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