Question

Sharyn needs 3.5 yards of fabric to make a dress for herself and 2.25 yards of the same fabric to make a matching dress for her daughter. If she buys 6.5 yards of fabric, how much will she have left over?

Answer 1

you add 3.5 and 2.25 because that is the fabric your needing and you subtract them from 6.5 and get: 6.5 - 5.75 = .75 yards of fabric left over

Answer 2

First you add both of the yards needed for both of the dresses:
3.5 + 2.25 = 5.75 yards

Then subtract the amount of fabric she buys (6.5 yards) by the total amount she needs (5.75 yards) to get how much she will have left over:
6.5 - 5.75 = .75 yards

So Sharyn has 0.75 yards of fabric left.