How many one-thirds are there in 72?
216
The question asks how many times the fraction "one-third" (\(\frac{1}{3}\)) fits into the whole number 72. This type of problem requires us to perform division. We need to divide the total quantity (72) by the size of the part we are counting (\(\frac{1}{3}\)).
To find out how many one-thirds are in 72, we set up the division problem:
Number of one-thirds = \(72 \div \frac{1}{3}\)
Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal. The reciprocal of \(\frac{1}{3}\) is \(\frac{3}{1}\) or simply 3.
So, the calculation becomes:
Number of one-thirds = \(72 \times 3\)
Now, we perform the multiplication:
Therefore, there are 216 one-thirds in 72.
Let's compare our calculated result with the given options:
| Option | Value | Matches Calculation? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 216 | Yes |
| 2 | 24 | No |
| 3 | 144 | No |
| 4 | 288 | No |
Our calculated value, 216, matches Option 1.
Based on the division of 72 by one-third, we find that there are 216 one-thirds in 72. This aligns with Option 1.
| Concept | Explanation | How it applies here |
|---|---|---|
| Fraction | A part of a whole, like \(\frac{1}{3}\). | The question asks about counting parts (\(\frac{1}{3}\)). |
| Division | Splitting a number into equal parts, or finding how many times one number fits into another. | We divide the whole (72) by the size of the part (\(\frac{1}{3}\)). |
| Reciprocal | Flipping a fraction (numerator becomes denominator and vice versa). Reciprocal of \(\frac{a}{b}\) is \(\frac{b}{a}\). | To divide by a fraction, multiply by its reciprocal. Reciprocal of \(\frac{1}{3}\) is 3. |
| Multiplication | Repeated addition, or scaling a number. | We multiply 72 by 3 after changing the division problem. |
When you ask "how many X are in Y?", you are essentially performing the operation \(Y \div X\).
For example:
Similarly, asking how many one-thirds are in 72 means calculating \(72 \div \frac{1}{3}\). This confirms the approach used in the solution.
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