Can someone accurately explain how to add fractions?

Question

I'm stumped. Easy ten points if you give me most precise answer. Ok, explain the steps for solving 5 3/10 - 1 31/50. I know it's finding the common denominator but in class I don't get how it became 4 65/50 - 1 31/50. Help please! ten points!!!! Free!

Answer 1

i think you may have written down the question wrong.

is the 5 in 5 3/10 supposed to be 5(3/20)? as in...5 multiplies by the fraction written?

Answer 2

You can see that 50 is the common denominator because the left part (5 3/10) is in tenths; the tenths can be multiplied by 5 to get 50, and the right part (1 31/50) is ALREADY in the corrrect form.

1. Start with the left part first, 5 3/10:

5 is the same as 5/1.

To get it into 50ths, multiply both the top and bottom by 50:

5 * 50

------  = 250/50

1 * 50  

Now convert the 3/10 to 50ths by multiplying both top and bottom by 5 = 15/50.

FInally add the two: 250/50 + 15/50 = 265/50.

2. Now, convert the right side (1 and 31/50ths) to 50ths form:

1 is the same as 50/50ths

Add 50/50ths to 31/50ths = 81/50.

3. Now you can subtract the right side (81/50) from the left side (265/50):

265/50 - 81/50 = 184/50

This may be simplified to 3 and 34/50ths, or 3 17/25.

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Whoever told you to simplify the left side to 4 and 65/50ths, that is not wrong, but, in my opinion, makes it more dificult to deal with...

You can do that, in which case 265/50 may be simplified to 5 and 15/50, but that wouldn't let you subtract 31/50, so you simplify it to 4 and 65/50ths.

Answer 3

to find a common denominator, you must find a number to multiply one denominator by to equal the other. so, to make the denominator of ten equal to the one of fifty, you must multiply 10*5. AND, what ever you multiply the denominator by, you must also multiply the numerator by.

Answer 4

10 can divide into 50 5 times.

Multiply the3/10 by 5 top and bottom

This makes the 3/10 into 15/50

Since you need to have the number that you subtract be less than or equal to the number from which you are taking it you will have to make a whole number be a fraction you will take one of the 5 and make it 50/50

add the 50/50 to the 4 15/50 making it 4 65/50

Subtract 1 31/50 from 4 65/50

Answer 5

ok... 5 3/10 - 1 31/50

first..change that mixed number into a fraction...

5x10+3/10 - 1x50+31/50

= 53/10 - 81/50

den u find common denominator...

so it would be like..

=53/10 times 5.. wich gives you 265/50

then you minus 81/50 from 265/50

265/50-81/50= 184/50

then you convert that back into a mix number...  

the answer will be.. 3 17/25

if not..then leave it as a mix number..

Answer 6

Here are some easy steps on how to do it.

1. Line up your numbers. (Put one on top of each other)

2. Don't mess with your whole numbers right now. (Your 5 and 1)

3. Now see how you can get the denominators right. 3/10 and 31/50. To get to the denominator that is 50 you would multiply the ten in three-tenths by 5 and also the 3.So now you have 15/50.

4. Now add them and you should get 6 46/50.

5. Hope this helps.



                                                        

                                                          

Answer 7

Find the common denominator; in this case, it is 50.  To change the 3/10 into 50ths, you have to multiply both the numerator and denominator by 10 to get 15/50.  Then you have 5 15/50 - 1 31/50

You can't subtract the 31 (in 31/50) from the 15 (in 15/50), so you have to borrow a 1 from the 5 and convert it into 50/50.  That gives you

4 65/50 (by adding the 15/50 and the borrowed 50/50 together).  Now you can solve the problem:

4 65/50 - 1 31/50 = 3 34/50

Answer 8

In order to add fractions, the denominator have to be the same.  So you multiply.  I think the answer is wrong, but I'm not sure what the correct one is.

Answer 9

How you get from 5 3/10 to 4 65/50...

As you said, you need to find the common denominator.  The comment denominator in this case is 10*5 = 50.

Now, let's start converting...

5 3/10 = 5*[(5)(3)/50]

          = 5 15/50

          = 4* {[1(50)+15]/50}

          = 4 65/50

Then, you can subtract fraction by subtracting the integer portion as: 4 - 1, and subtract 65 - 31.  You will get 3 34/50.