Final answer:
To find out how much ribbon each person would get after splitting the total amount in half, we add the quantities of 2 1/4 yds and 3/5 yds to get 57/20 yds, and then divide by 2 to conclude that each person would receive 1 17/40 yards of ribbon.
Step-by-step explanation:
Starting with the initial quantity of ribbon, which is two and one fourth yards (2 1/4 yds), we can convert this to an improper fraction: 2 1/4 yds = (2*4+1)/4 = 9/4 yds. Next, we add the other piece of ribbon which is three fifths yards (3/5 yds) to the initial quantity. The sum of the two lengths of ribbon is (9/4) + (3/5) yds. To find this sum, we need a common denominator, which would be 20. The addition then becomes (9*5)/(4*5) + (3*4)/(5*4) = 45/20 + 12/20 = 57/20 yds.
To find out how much ribbon each person would get if we split the total amount in half, we divide the total length by two: (57/20) ÷ 2 = 57/20 ÷ 2/1 = 57/20 × 1/2 = 57/40 yds. Simplifying, we get 1 17/40 yards per person.
Understanding this calculation is akin to visualizing portions of a pie or quarters in a dollar as per the reference information. By dividing the total quantity of ribbon equally, each person would receive one and seventeen fortieths yards of ribbon (1 17/40 yds).