Suppose that 16 inches of wire costs 80 cents. At the same rate, how many inches of wire can be bought for 55 cents

To find out how many inches of wire can be bought for 55 cents, we first need to determine the cost per inch. If 16 inches costs 80 cents, then the cost per inch is 80 cents divided by 16 inches, which equals 5 cents per inch. Now, to find out how many inches can be bought for 55 cents, we divide 55 cents by the cost per inch: 55 cents divided by 5 cents per inch equals 11 inches. So, for 55 cents, you can buy 11 inches of wire! Let’s take a moment to appreciate wire in our everyday lives—it's not just for crafting! People use wire for hanging pictures, securing plants, and even in DIY home projects. The humble wire can literally hold up our world, sometimes in ways we don’t even realize! When tackling problems like this, it’s easy to rush through the calculations. Common mistakes include miscalculating the cost per inch or forgetting to convert the price into a consistent unit. Always double-check your division and calculations to avoid small errors that can lead to big mistakes!