Question

PLZ HELP! 30 POINTS!
A horse had 4 1/5 scoops of oats in his bucket. He ate 2 1/2 scoops of oats. How much scoops of oats are left in his bucket? Enter your answer in the box as a mixed number in simplest form.

Answer 1

The best way to solve this is to find a common denominator! Don't worry, it's super easy

Take 4 1/5 and change it to a single fraction by multiplying 5(4) and adding the 1, then put it over 5 again. This gives you 21/5, which is equal to 4 1/5.

Then do the same thing with 2 1/2:
2(2) +1 over 2= 5/2.

The problem is asking you to subtract. So 21/5- 5/2.

So how can you subtract that? Easy: common denominators!
The smallest number that is divisible by both 2 and 5 is 10, so you want both numbers to have 10 on the bottom.

To do this, multiply 21/5 by 2/2 (Note: 2/2 is equal to 1, so you are not changing the value of the fraction, you're only changing how it is written).
This is 42/10.

Then multiply 5/2 by 5/5 for 25/10.

NOW you can finally subtract!

42/10 - 25/10 = 17/10

17/10 is your answer!!

(Think 42-25/10 if you're confused on how to subtract Fractions)

Answer 2

Equation:

4  1/5    -    2   1/2

Showing Work:

Steps:

4  1/5     -    2   1/2

Break off    1   from  4:

4  1/5    =    3   6/5

=     3   6/5     -    2   1/2

Subtract Whole Numbers:

3     -     2      =     1

Combine Fractions:

6/5   -    1/2:       7/10

=        1       +    7/10

Therefore,  Your Answer is =====>    1   7/10  Scoops of Oats left in the horses bucket.

Hope that helps!!!!                                        : )