Answer:
4 1/2 feet
Explanation:
You find the amount remaining by subtracting the cut length from the original length:
... remaining = 5 1/4 - 3/4
... = 5 +1/4 -3/4 . . . . . . rearrange the problem a bit
... = 5 + (1/4 -3/4) = 5 + (-2/4) = 5 - 1/2 . . . . . . add the fractional parts
... remaining = 4 1/2 . . . . . . . . . . subtract the fraction from the whole number
Units are feet.
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We assume you know that 1 - 1/2 = 1/2, so (4 + 1) - 1/2 = 4 + (1 - 1/2) = 4 1/2.
