How much recycled newspaper will save a tree?

Grade level: 4th – 5th grades

Skills: Fraction (multiplication/division)

Related environmental issues: Reduce/Reuse/Recycle

 

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Recycling paper prevents many trees from being cut down for paper. It is estimated that we can save one tree by recycling a stack of newspaper 3 feet high.

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  1. Sean recycled a stack of newspaper 23 feet high.  How many trees did Sean save by recycling the newspaper? Answers must be fractions in mixed numbers.
  2. To save 13 1/6  trees, a stack of how many feet of newspaper Does Sean need to recycle?  Convertfractions into mixed numbers.
  3. Maya wants to save 18 2/3trees. She gathered newspaper to recycle and made a stack of newspaper 55 feet high.  Did she gather enough newspaper? Explain.

 

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Source: Recycle Across America, Recycling facts


Answer keys

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