Example 3

Each day, an elephant eats 5 pounds of food for every 100 pounds of its body weight. How much does a 9300 pound elephant eat per day?

SOLUTION

First, write a proportion involving two ratios that compare the weight of the food with the weight of the elephant.

Writing and Solving a Proportion

Then, solve the proportion.

100

5

9300

x=

Weight of food

Weight of elephant

Example 3 Writing and Solving a Proportion

x465 = Divide.

ANSWER

A 9300 pound elephant eats about 465 pounds of food per day.

100

59300 • =

9300

x9300 • Multiply each side by 9300.

100

46,500= x Simplify.

9. Each day, an elephant eats 5 pounds of food forevery 100 pounds of its body weight. How much does a 12,500 pound elephant eat per day?

ANSWER about 625 lb

Checkpoint