Marisol rode her scooter #1 1/2# miles to Athena's home, then #3/4# mile to Ariel's home, then #1 1/4# mile back to her home. How far did Marisol ride?

1 Answer
Aug 15, 2017

#3 1/2 # miles

Explanation:

A question like this is usually used as an introduction to 'story sums'.

The maths is not at all difficult, it is more about understanding the scenario and the information given and then deciding which operation to do.

In this case, three different distances are given. TO find the total distance ridden, it will be an ADDITION of the numbers.

#1 1/2 + 3/4 + 1 1/4" "larr# add the whole numbers.

#=2 (2+3+1)/4" "larr# convert to a common denominator

#=2 6/4#

#= 2 +1 2/4#

#= 3 1/2# miles

A quicker way would have been to notice that #1 1/4 +3/4# will add to #2#

Then #2 + 1 1/2 = 3 1/2# miles