Question

STEM Connection Poppy is helping clean up a park. Her group is cleaning up (2)/(5) of the park. Another group is cleaning up (1)/(4) of the park. About how much of the park should a third group clean up so that they cover the entire park?

Answer 1

After calculating the sum of the parts cleaned by the first two groups, which is (13/20) of the park, we subtract this from the whole park (20/20) to find that the third group should clean up (7/20) of the park.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question is about calculating the remaining fraction of the park that needs to be cleaned up by a third group after one group has cleaned up (2/5) of the park and another group has cleaned up (1/4) of the park.

First, we find a common denominator for the fractions, which is 20. So:

• (2/5) becomes (8/20) after multiplying the numerator and denominator by 4.
• (1/4) becomes (5/20) after multiplying the numerator and denominator by 5.
• Add these two fractions: (8/20) + (5/20) = (13/20).

Now, the total park area cleaned by both groups is (13/20). To find out the remaining part, subtract this sum from the whole (20/20):

• (20/20) - (13/20) = (7/20).

The third group should therefore clean up (7/20) of the park to cover the entire area.