Question

Miss Smith needed 2 1/5 pounds of corn Mesa in order to make tamales. when she went to the grocery store she found a package of 1 3/8 pounds. what fraction of a pound does she still need?

Answer 1

For this case we must do a subtraction, for this we convert the mixed numbers given in fractions:

`2 \frac {1} {5} = \frac {10 + 1} {5} = \frac {11} {5}\\1 \frac {3} {8} = \frac {8 + 3} {8} = \frac {11} {8}`

We subtract to know what fraction of mass of corn needs Miss Smith.

`\frac {11} {5} - \frac {11} {8} = \frac {8 * 11-5 * 11} {40} = \frac {88-55} {40} = \frac {33} { 40}`

Thus, it lacks
`\frac {33} {40}` of pounds of corn dough.

Answer:

`\frac {33} {40}`