Question

Simplify. Show your work.
5 1/3 +(-3 9/18)

Answer 1

How would you write 1/3 as x/18? Figure that out, then you can add everything together

Answer 2

multiply the denominator by 6?

Answer 3

First simplify the fraction 9/18 to 1/2. Then write your fractional expression as:

\[\space\space\space\space\space5\frac{1}{3} \\ - 3 \frac{1}{2} \\ \text{_______}\]

Answer 4

Is this what your question look like?
\[5\frac{ 1 }{ 3 } + (-3\frac{ 9 }{ 18 })\]

Answer 5

@incomplte yes ^^

Answer 6

@she-walks-in, did you read anything I wrote at all?

Answer 7

@Hero yes I just saw it and I get it now, 9/18 simplifies to 1/2. Now how do i subtract 3 1/2 from 5 1/3. The denominators are still different. or is that just for multiplication that i have to have that?

Answer 8

Ok. I would advise you to first multiply out into standard fraction. The first part would become 16/3. What do you think the second part that you already simplified would become?

Answer 9

@incomplte, I got this, okay?

Answer 10

Sorry i was just trying to help too, but of course go ahead.

Answer 11

thanks for your help =) @incomplte

Answer 12

Well, that's because you're explaining a different method from the one that I am showing her. When that happens, things can get confusing

Answer 13

I started helping her before you came so be respectful and let me continue

Answer 14

So as I was saying @she-walks-in, we have:

\[\space\space\space\space\space5\frac{1}{3} \\ - 3 \frac{1}{2} \\ \text{_______}\]

Answer 15

Now we have to find equivalent fractions for 1/3 and 1/2 such that they have the same denominator. To do that, we first must find the LCM between 2 and 3.

Answer 16

The LCM would be 6, right?

Answer 17

Precisely. Do you have an idea of what the equivalent fractions might be for 1/3 and 1/2?

Answer 18

Basically, all you would have to do is find two numbers x and y:

\[\frac{1}{3} = \frac{x}{6}\]
\[\frac{1}{2} = \frac{y}{6}\]

Answer 19

such that the equations above are equal.

Answer 20

proportions?

Answer 21

Yes, figure out what x and y are so that we can use them to finish doing the problem.

Answer 22

x=2 y=3

Answer 23

Okay, good. So now we have

\(\frac{2}{6}\) and \(\frac{3}{6}\)

Answer 24

So we will replace those in the original problem to get

\[\space\space\space\space\space5\frac{2}{6} \\ - 3 \frac{3}{6} \\ \text{_______}\]

Answer 25

Now before we subtract, we have something else we must do, which is to borrow one from 5 so that we can subtract the fractions appropriately.

Answer 26

Borrowing one from 5 would make the fraction at the top look something like this:

\[4\frac{2}{6} + \frac{6}{6} = 4\frac{8}{6}\]

Answer 27

I hope that makes sense. If not, I can explain it.

Answer 28

Ultimately, what we need to subtract here is:

\[\space\space\space\space\space4\frac{8}{6} \\ - 3 \frac{3}{6} \\ \text{_______}\]

Answer 29

@she-walks-in, are you stuck or have you figured it out yet?

Answer 30

sorry my computer randomly blue screened and shut off. I'm confused how you got from the answers we go from the proportions to this

Answer 31

I hope you at least understand how we got 2/6 and 3/y6

Answer 32

ok, sorry i just had to reread it. I get it.

Answer 33

So.....did you come up with a result? If so, I'd like to know.

Answer 34

17/6 on my calculater

Answer 35

On your calculator? Really? I'm sad that you didn't simply subtract the fraction we came up with.

Answer 36

The calculator will give you the improper form

Answer 37

erm 11/6 i mean

Answer 38

and yup so that'll be 1 5/6 ?

Answer 39

Yes, but you're supposed to use your calculator only for verification, and AFTER you have solved the problem. I'm kinda disappointed in you.

Answer 40

\[\space\space\space\space\space4\frac{8}{6} \\ - 3 \frac{3}{6} \\ \text{_______} \\ \space\space \space \space 1\frac{5}{6}\]

Answer 41

sorry =/ My teachers never really told me that..um.. I'll try not to do that so much anymore

Answer 42

You must be one of those online homeschoolers

Answer 43

yessir, only just. I've just started this september

Answer 44

well, thank you anyway, i really do appreciate it