How do you solve 5/2 + 9 divided by 3 - 2/6?

1 Answer
Feb 5, 2016

4 5/16

Explanation:

Given: " "(5/2+9) -:(3-2/6)

But 9" is the same as "18/2

And 3" is the same as "18/6

Substituting gives:

(5/2+18/2)-:(18/6-2/6)

(23/2)-:(16/6)

23/2-:16/6
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Using the shortcut method:

Invert the divisor (turn 16/6 upside down) and multiply

23/2xx6/16

This is the same as:

23/16xx6/2
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Doing the arithmetic

But 6-:2 = 3 giving:

color(brown)(23/16xx3)

color(blue)((23xx3)/16)" if this bit confuses you think of "color(brown)( 23/16 xx 3/1)color(blue)( =(23xx3)/(16xx1))

69/16

4 5/16