Question

Sam has a piece of rope that is 3 1/2 feet long. He cuts the rope so that one piece is 1 1/3 feet long what is the length of the other half?

Answer 1

$3\frac{1}{2}=\frac{3\cdot2+1}{2}=\frac{7}{2}$$1\frac{1}{3}=\frac{1\cdot3+1}{3}=\frac{4}{3}$

The length of the other half is:

$\frac{7}{2}-\frac{4}{3}=\frac{7\cdot3-4\cdot2}{2\cdot3}=\frac{21-8}{6}=\frac{13}{6}$$\frac{13}{6}=\frac{12+1}{6}=\frac{12}{6}+\frac{1}{6}=2+\frac{1}{6}=2\frac{1}{6}\text{ fe}et$