Erica bought #3 1/2# yards of fabric. If she uses #2/3# of the fabric to make a curtain, how much will she have left?

1 Answer
Brandon
Jan 16, 2018

#17/6# Or

#2 5/6# Or

#2.83333333#...

Explanation:

1) We have to minus #2/3# from #3 1/2# As #2/3# of the whole of the fabric (#3 1/2#) is used.

#3 1/2 =7/2#

#3 xx 2=6#

#6+1=7#

#7/2 -2/3#

2) We have to find a common denominator of both of the fractions as this is an essential step to add/subtract fractions, So we need to find the lowest common multiple of 2 and 3 which is 6:

#7/2 xx 3=21/6# (As #2 xx 3=6#)

#2/3 xx 2=4/6# (As #3 xx 2=6#)

#therefore# this goes to...

#21/6 -4/6#

As both denominators are the same, all we need to do is take away 4 from 21:

#21-4=17#

So therefore the fraction goes to:

=> #17/6#

The answer could be left like this, or a mixed fraction, or a decimal which can be:

#2 5/6#

Or...

#2.83333333333....#

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