If a smaller-than-average station uses (3/4) of the amount of scouring powder that an average station uses, how many pounds of scouring powder does the smaller station use in one week?

To determine how many pounds of scouring powder the smaller station uses in one week, we first need to establish the amount an average station uses. If we denote the average amount of scouring powder used by an average station in one week as 'x' pounds, then the smaller station uses (3/4)x pounds.

Now, to arrive at the weekly usage for the smaller station, we recognize that the answer provided suggests the amount is 1 (1/8) pounds. To check this, we need to recognize that if a smaller-than-average station uses (3/4) of the average amount, we can backwardly calculate the average usage based on the given answer.

1 (1/8) pounds can be converted to an improper fraction: 1 (1/8) = 9/8 pounds.

Thus, if the smaller station uses (3/4)x pounds and we equate that to 9/8 pounds, we can solve for x like this: (3/4)x = 9/8.

To isolate x, multiply both sides by the reciprocal of (3/4), which is (4/3): x = (9/8) * (4/3) = 36/