Question

dan bought 4 2/5 pounds of chicken and 5 3/10 pounds of beef at the store. how many pounds of meat did dan buy total?

Answer 1

We need to add the two fractions.

The problem is:

$4\frac{2}{5}+5\frac{3}{10}$

We first convert the mixed numbers into improper fraction using the rule shown below:

$a\frac{b}{c}=\frac{(a\times c)+b}{c}$

Thus, the problem becomes:

$\begin{gathered} 4\frac{2}{5}+5\frac{3}{10} \\ =\frac{(4\times5)+2}{5}+\frac{(5\times10)+3}{10} \\ =\frac{20+2}{5}+\frac{50+3}{10} \\ =\frac{22}{5}+\frac{53}{10} \end{gathered}$

Now, we take the common denominator, 10, and add them. The steps are shown below:

$\begin{gathered} \frac{22}{5}+\frac{53}{10} \\ =\frac{22}{5}\times\frac{2}{2}+\frac{53}{10} \\ =\frac{22\times2}{5\times2}+\frac{53}{10} \\ =\frac{44}{10}+\frac{53}{10} \\ =\frac{44+53}{10} \\ =\frac{97}{10} \\ \end{gathered}$

We can against convert it back to mixed number :

$\begin{gathered} \frac{97}{10} \\ =9\frac{7}{10} \end{gathered}$

The correct answer is:

$9\frac{7}{10}\text{ pounds}$