Question

On Monday, the water was shut off 3 times for ¼ hours, 2/3 hours, and 1-3/4 hours, respectively. What was the total number of hours the water was off?

Answer 1

2-2/3 hours

Explanation:

1/4 + 2/3 + 1-3/4 = 1/4 + 2/3 + 7/4. Use common is 12, so we get 3+8+21/12 = 32/12. Simplify equal 8/3 or 2-2/3 hours!

Answer 2

First, we have to add up the periods of time when the water was off.

To start, let's consider the first time the water was shut off. It was off for a quarter of an hour, which is the same as 1/4 hours.

Secondly, the water was shut off for 2/3 hours.

Finally, the last shut-off lasted for 1 and 3/4 hours. In order to add this to the other fractions, it might be easier to think of it as 1 hour and 3/4 of another hour. This can also be expressed as 1.75 hours.

Adding these three periods together:

1/4 (first shut-off) + 2/3 (second shut-off) + 1.75 (third shut-off),

we get that the total number of hours the water was off was approximately 2.67 hours which is the exact value to the second decimal number.

Therefore, the water was off for roughly on Monday.

Answer: 2.67 hours