Ben was told, ‘When mowing, never cut more than 1/3 off the grass height’. If the lawn is 12 1/2 cm high, what is the minimum height to which Ben should cut the grass?

To determine the minimum height to which Ben should cut the grass, we need to calculate one-third of the current grass height and then subtract that from the current height. Here’s the step-by-step process:

1. **Convert the height to an improper fraction**:
   \[
   12 \frac{1}{2} \text{ cm} = 12 + \frac{1}{2} = \frac{24}{2} + \frac{1}{2} = \frac{25}{2} \text{ cm}
   \]

2. **Calculate one-third of the grass height**:
   \[
   \text{One-third of } \frac{25}{2} = \frac{1}{3} \times \frac{25}{2} = \frac{25}{6} \text{ cm}
   \]

3. **Convert the result to a decimal for easier subtraction**:
   \[
   \frac{25}{6} \approx 4.1667 \text{ cm}
   \]

4. **Subtract this amount from the current height**:
   \[
   12.5 \text{ cm} - 4.1667 \text{ cm} \approx 8.3333 \text{ cm}
   \]

Therefore, the minimum height to which Ben should cut the grass is approximately \( 8.33 \) cm.

Would you like further details or have any questions?

Here are 8 related questions that expand on this information:

1. How do you convert a mixed number to an improper fraction?
2. How do you calculate one-third of a given number?
3. Why is it important not to cut more than one-third of the grass height?
4. What is the impact on the lawn if more than one-third of the grass height is cut?
5. How do you handle fractional results in practical measurements?
6. What is the benefit of keeping the grass at a certain height?
7. How does regular mowing affect the health of the grass?
8. What tools or techniques can help ensure precise mowing?

**Tip:** Always use proper measurement tools when mowing to maintain the recommended grass height, ensuring a healthy and well-maintained lawn.

Discover how to calculate the minimum height to which Ben should cut the grass based on the rule of not cutting more than one-third of the grass height. This problem involves fractions and subtraction. Suitable for students in Grades 4-6.

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