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#