Question

dan bought 4 2/5 pounds of chicken and 5 3/10 pounds of beef at the store. how many pounds of meat did dan buy total?

Answer 1

We need to add the two fractions.

The problem is:

`4(2)/(5)+5(3)/(10)`

We first convert the mixed numbers into improper fraction using the rule shown below:

`a(b)/(c)=((a* c)+b)/(c)`

Thus, the problem becomes:

`\begin{gathered} 4(2)/(5)+5(3)/(10) \\ =((4*5)+2)/(5)+((5*10)+3)/(10) \\ =(20+2)/(5)+(50+3)/(10) \\ =(22)/(5)+(53)/(10) \end{gathered}`

Now, we take the common denominator, 10, and add them. The steps are shown below:

`\begin{gathered} (22)/(5)+(53)/(10) \\ =(22)/(5)*(2)/(2)+(53)/(10) \\ =(22*2)/(5*2)+(53)/(10) \\ =(44)/(10)+(53)/(10) \\ =(44+53)/(10) \\ =(97)/(10) \\ \end{gathered}`

We can against convert it back to mixed number :

`\begin{gathered} (97)/(10) \\ =9(7)/(10) \end{gathered}`

The correct answer is:

`9(7)/(10)\text{ pounds}`