To determine the ratio of cups of milk to one cup of flour, follow these steps:

Step 1: Write the given ratio

The recipe requires $5 \frac{1}{2}$ cups of milk for every $2 \frac{3}{4}$ cups of flour.

Step 2: Convert mixed numbers to improper fractions

• $5 \frac{1}{2} = \frac{11}{2}$
• $2 \frac{3}{4} = \frac{11}{4}$

So, the ratio of milk to flour is:

$\frac{\frac{11}{2}}{\frac{11}{4}}$

Step 3: Simplify the ratio

Dividing by a fraction is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal:

$\frac{\frac{11}{2}}{\frac{11}{4}} = \frac{11}{2} \times \frac{4}{11}$

Simplify the fractions by canceling $11$ in the numerator and denominator:

$\frac{11}{2} \times \frac{4}{11} = \frac{4}{2} = 2$

Step 4: Interpret the result

The ratio of cups of milk to one cup of flour is 2.

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If you have further questions or need detailed clarification, feel free to ask!

Related Questions:

1. How do you calculate the ratio for different amounts of flour, such as $3$ cups?
2. Can you find the amount of milk needed for $1 \frac{1}{2}$ cups of flour?
3. How do improper fractions simplify calculations in ratios?
4. What is the general method for converting mixed numbers into improper fractions?
5. How can this ratio be applied in scaling recipes?

Tip: Always convert mixed numbers to improper fractions when dealing with ratios—it makes calculations straightforward!