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Robbie drew the number line below to find 4/5-1/5. Explain why Robbie is incorrect.Robbie's procedure: 4/5 ---> 1

User Loup
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1 Answer

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If we have to represent 4/5 - 1/5 in a number line, we should do this:

The result should be 3/5.

When we have to perform a substraction, we have to consider the signs of the terms.

In this case, we start from 4/5, which is a positive value.

Then, we have to substract 1/5 form 4/5.

To do that, we have to consider that substracting 1/5 is like adding a negative number. Then, the direction is the opposite to the increase of the line.

Then, we represent 1/5 to the left, substracting from 4/5.

The result is then 3/5, matching the result of the arithmetic operation.

Robbie did an addition of 4/5 and 1/5 instead of a substraction. She should have represented 1/5 to the left of 4/5 instead of the right.

Robbie drew the number line below to find 4/5-1/5. Explain why Robbie is incorrect-example-1
User Jmvcollaborator
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