Question

The total length of an extension cord measures 18 9/16 inches. The plug end measures 2 3/4 inches, and the receptacle end measures 5 3/8 inches. What is the length of the wire portion of the extension cord?

Answer 1

The answer is that the wire portion is 10 7/16 inches long.
This is because of this:
18 9/16- 2 3/4 - 5 3/8
297/16 - 44/16 - 86/16 << common denominator
167/16 << do all the subtraction
167/16 turned into a mixed fraction is 10 7/16