Question #133a6

1 Answer
Nov 30, 2017

125/24 or 5 5/24

Explanation:

Manuela takes out 1/8 of the 5 1/3 cup of sugar. This would be subtraction then because she is removing a portion from a larger whole.

To solve 5 1/3 - 1/8 you have to change each number to an improper fraction (a fraction with a numerator that's bigger than the denominator)

5 1/3 - 1/8 would become
16/3- 1/8

I changed 5 1/3 into 16/3 by multiplying the 3 and the 5 together, and then adding the 1

Next, you should figure out a common denominator because the denominators of fractions should always be the same when adding or subtracting them. This is the number that both denominators have in their multiplication tables. I'd recommend using the smallest common denominator, it makes everything easier!

In this case, the smallest common denominator between 3 and 8 is 24

Remember, to get from 3 to 24 you have to multiply 3 by 8 and to get from 8 to 24 you have to multiply 8 by 3!

Now, lets focus on the equation.

Since the only way to get from 3 to 24 you have to multiply 3 by 8, multiply the numerator (of 16/3) by 8

AND

Since the only way to get from 8 to 24 you have to multiply 8 by 3, multiply the numerator (of 1/8) by 3

Also, don't forget to change the denominators to 24!

The resulting equation would be 128/24 - 3/24

Now, you can subtract the numerators! (Because the denominators are both the same!

The answer would be 125/24

You can answer in improper fraction form by saying 125/24 or in mixed number form by saying 5 5/24. Each answer means the same thing, you can write the fraction whichever way you or your teacher prefers.

Hope that helped!