Question: A patient is to take 3 1/3 tablespoons of medicine per day in 4 equally divided doses. How much medicine is to be taken in each dose?
1. **State the problem:** A patient needs to take $$3 \frac{1}{3}$$ tablespoons of medicine per day divided equally into 4 doses. We need to find how much medicine is in each dose.
2. **Convert the mixed number to an improper fraction:**
$$3 \frac{1}{3} = \frac{3 \times 3 + 1}{3} = \frac{10}{3}$$ tablespoons.
3. **Divide the total amount by the number of doses:**
Each dose = $$\frac{10}{3} \div 4 = \frac{10}{3} \times \frac{1}{4} = \frac{10}{12}$$.
4. **Simplify the fraction:**
$$\frac{10}{12} = \frac{\cancel{10}^{5}}{\cancel{12}^{6}} = \frac{5}{6}$$ tablespoons.
5. **Answer:** There are $$\frac{5}{6}$$ tablespoons of medicine in each dose.