DIG DEEPER! A zoo nutritionist orders \( 5 \frac{1}{4} \) tons of apples and \( 7 \frac{2}{4} \) tons of bananas each year to feed the animals. She orders 6 times as many tons of herbivore pellets than tons of fruit. How many tons of herbivore pellets does the nutritionist order?

To find the total amount of fruit ordered, we first need to convert the mixed numbers into improper fractions. For apples: \( 5 \frac{1}{4} = \frac{21}{4} \) tons. For bananas: \( 7 \frac{2}{4} = 7 \frac{1}{2} = \frac{15}{2} \) tons. Now, converting \( \frac{15}{2} \) to have a common denominator with \( \frac{21}{4} \): \( \frac{15}{2} = \frac{30}{4} \). Now, add the two together: \[ \frac{21}{4} + \frac{30}{4} = \frac{51}{4} \text{ tons of fruit.} \] Now, since the nutritionist orders 6 times as many tons of herbivore pellets than tons of fruit: \[ \text{Pellets} = 6 \times \frac{51}{4} = \frac{306}{4} = 76.5 \text{ tons.} \] Thus, the nutritionist orders **76.5 tons** of herbivore pellets.