102k views
1 vote
2


start fraction, 2, divided by, 3, end fraction of the doughnuts in a box have frosting.
1
2
2
1

start fraction, 1, divided by, 2, end fraction of the doughnuts with frosting have sprinkles.
What fraction of the doughnuts in the box have frosting and sprinkles?

User Akahunahi
by
8.0k points

1 Answer

3 votes

Explanation:

2/3 of the doughnuts in a box have frosting.

1/2 of the doughnuts with frosting have sprinkles.

to combine this into one event with both conditions true (doughnuts with frosting and sprinkles) we need to multiply the fractions :

2/3 × 1/2 = (2×1)/(3×2) = 2/6 = 1/3

it is only logical : half of 2/3 is 1/3.

so, 1/3 of the doughnuts in the box have both frosting and sprinkles.

FYI : if the question was "how many have either frosting or sprinkles", we would have to add the non-overlapping parts (instead of multiplying). it is important to remember the key word "non-overlapping" in this regard.

in our case both conditions are fully overlapping (as only frosted doughnuts have sprinkles). and so the answer would be 2/3 + 0 = 2/3.

if the situation were to be e.g. that 2/3 are frosted, and half of the others have sprinkles, then the 2 conditions would not overlap, and the answer would be

2/3 + 1/3 × 1/2 = 2/3 + 1/6 = 4/6 + 1/6 = 5/6

User Monu
by
8.0k points