Question

john needs to cut three strips of wood 11 3/5 inches, 15 1/5 inches, and 9 2/5 inches long. He has a strip that is 48 inches long.How long will the leftover piece be after he cuts what he wants?

Answer 1

11 4/5 because when you add 11 3/5, 15 1/5, and 9 2/5 together you get 36 1/5 and since you are cutting that much off you subtract that from 48 which is 11 4/5.

Answer 2

`11(4)/(5)` inches

Explanation:

John has a strip of wood that is 48 inches long.

He needs to cut three strips of wood that is

`11(3)/(5)` inches,
`15(1)/(5)` inches and
`9(2)/(5)` inches long.

The total length of strips he needed =
`11(3)/(5)` +
`15(1)/(5)` +
`9(2)/(5)`

=
`(58)/(5)` +
`(76)/(5)` +
`(47)/(5)`

=
`(58+76+47)/(5)`

=
`(181)/(5)`

=
`36(1)/(5)`

He used
`36(1)/(5)` inches to cut three strips.

Now the leftover piece = 48 -
`36(1)/(5)`

= 48 -
`(181)/(5)`

=
`(240-181)/(5)`

=
`(59)/(5)`

=
`11(4)/(5)`

The leftover piece would be
`11(4)/(5)` inches