Question

Evelyn ate 1/2 cup of nuts and her brother ate 1/4 cup. If there were 2 2/3 cups of nuts in the container before their snack how many cups were left after they finished?

Answer 1

Evelyn ate: 1/2 = 2/4 cup
Brother ate: 1/4 cup
Together they ate: 3/4 cup

2 2/3 - 3/4 = 1 11/12

Because:

First you have to make 2 2/3 into a fraction instead of a whole in a fraction so:

2 2/3 = 8/3

Then, you have to find a common denominator between 8/3 and 3/4 which is 12. So, you multiply 8/3 by 4 and 3/4 by 3 to get 32/12 and 9/12. Now, do 32/12 - 9/12 which gives you 23/12. The denominator stays the same because the numbers are the same. Finally, you simplify which is 1 11/12.