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?

Jan 16, 2018

$\frac{17}{6}$ Or

$2 \frac{5}{6}$ Or

$2.83333333$...

Explanation:

1) We have to minus $\frac{2}{3}$ from $3 \frac{1}{2}$ As $\frac{2}{3}$ of the whole of the fabric ($3 \frac{1}{2}$) is used.

$3 \frac{1}{2} = \frac{7}{2}$

$3 \times 2 = 6$

$6 + 1 = 7$

$\frac{7}{2} - \frac{2}{3}$

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:

$\frac{7}{2} \times 3 = \frac{21}{6}$ (As $2 \times 3 = 6$)

$\frac{2}{3} \times 2 = \frac{4}{6}$ (As $3 \times 2 = 6$)

$\therefore$ this goes to...

$\frac{21}{6} - \frac{4}{6}$

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:

=> $\frac{17}{6}$

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

$2 \frac{5}{6}$

Or...

$2.83333333333 \ldots .$