Question

The five numbers 4, 9, 15, 20, and 27 are placed in the boxes below to make a true statement. What is the sum of the numbers placed in the boxes in the numerators on the left-hand side: []/[] + []/[] = 9/[]

Answer 1

The question is about placing five given numbers into a fractional equation to equal 9 over a denominator.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking for help with arranging numbers to form a correct equation involving fractions. This is a challenge in creating a proper fraction equation that equals nine. To solve this, we need to find a way to place the numbers 4, 9, 15, 20, and 27 into the equation in such a way that when we add two fractions on the left-hand side, they equal 9 over a denominator on the right-hand side. We are specifically looking for the sum of the numerators that are part of the fractions on the left-hand side.

One approach is to remember that adding fractions requires a common denominator. We can use the numbers given to figure out a pair of fractions that use some of these numbers as numerators, and which can share a common denominator, and when added together, equal a fraction with 9 as the numerator. Without a unified denominator, we cannot simply add the numerators. The rules of mathematics dictate that fractions must have a common denominator to be added directly.