Question

Which number would you add to three and four-tenths to give an approximate sum of 5?

Answer 1

5-3 4/10 = x
x= 8/5

Answer 2

Hint:

\(x + 3\frac{4}{10} \approx 5\)

Answer 3

I'm not a big fan of improper fractions

Answer 4

ME EITHER

Answer 5

I can show you how to solve these without using improper fractions

Answer 6

OKAY

Answer 7

Well basically, we figured out that we need to solve for x. All we have to do is subtract this:

\(5 - 3\frac{4}{10}\)

Answer 8

What we do is separate the whole numbers from the fractions to get this:

\((4 - 3)(\frac{10}{10} - \frac{4}{10}\))

Answer 9

I borrowed 1 from 5 and changed that 1 to 10/10 so that I would have a fraction to subtract from 4/10

Answer 10

Now I can subtract:

\((4 - 3)(\frac{10}{10} - \frac{4}{10})\) becomes

\(1\frac{6}{10}\)

and that reduces to

\(1\frac{3}{5}\)

Thus I have done it without improper fractions.

Answer 11

WOW..

Answer 12

You can basically use this method with any mixed fractions that need to be added or subtracted. I haven't figured it out a method for multiplying mixed fractions, but I'm close.

Answer 13

Does anyone have any questions or doubts about my method? Feel free to ask.