Answer: Width of box is not taken up by pencils = [tex]2\dfrac58\text{ inches}[/tex]
Width of each pencil [tex]=\dfrac38\text{ inches}[/tex]
Step-by-step explanation:
Given: Width of pencil box = [tex]5\dfrac14\text{ inches}=\dfrac{21}{4}\text{ inches}[/tex]
Width of seven pencils = [tex]2\dfrac58\text{ inches}=\dfrac{16+5}{8}\text{ inches}=\dfrac{21}{8}\text{ inches}[/tex]
Width of box is not taken up by pencils = Width of pencil box - Width of seven pencils
[tex]\left \{ {{y=2} \atop {x=2}} \right. \dfrac{21}{4}-\dfrac{21}{8}\\\\=\dfrac{21\times2-21}{8}\\\\=\dfrac{21}{8}\text{ inches}=2\dfrac58\text{ inches}[/tex]
Width of box is not taken up by pencils = [tex]2\dfrac58\text{ inches}[/tex]
Width of each pencil = (Width of seven pencils ) ÷ 7
[tex]=\dfrac{21}{8}\div7\\\\=\dfrac{21}{8}\times\dfrac17\\\\=\dfrac38\text{ inches}[/tex]
Width of each pencil [tex]=\dfrac38\text{ inches}[/tex]
