Answer:
a. 15/16 tons or 0.9375 tons
b. 6 4/5 work days or 6.8 work days
Step-by-step explanation:
a.
There are 3 hours from 9 am to noon
Convert 2 1/2 to 5/2 or 2.5
Set up a proportion: 
Cross-multiply: 5/2 * 3 = 8x → 15/2 = 8x
Divide 15/2 by 8 = 15/2 * 1/8 = 15/16
b. Establish another proportion

Cross-multiply: (5/2) y = 8*17 → (5/2) y = 136
Divide 136 by 5/2 = 136 * 2/5 = 54 2/5 hours
1 workday = 8 hours
Therefore, 54 2/5 hours / 8 hours = 6 4/5 work days or 6.8 work days