Hi there! 2 ½ is equivalent to 2.5 and 7 ½ is equivalent to 7.5. An expression that can be used to find out how many strips can be cut is this:
2.5x = 7.5
This is because the length of the ribbon needed to be cut is 2.5 ft long and we are looking for how many of that length could be cut out of a roll of ribbon that is 7.5ft long. All you have to do for this is divide both sides by 2.5 to isolate the variable. 7.5/2.5 is 3. x = 3. Eli can cut 3 strips of 2½ ft long ribbon.
