Question

The length of a rectangle measures 5/8 of a foot. The width of the rectangle measures 2 1/2 feet. What is the area of the rectangle?

Answer 1

2 1/2 multiplied by 5/8 = 1.5625

Answer 2

1 9/16 square feet or 1.5625 square feet

Explanation:

Area of a rectangle is Length x Width

First convert 2 1/2 into a number that is just a fraction.

2 = 4/2 so 4/2 + 1/2 = 5/2

Now you can multiply the two fractions to find the area.

area = 5 5 25

-- x -- = -----

8 2 16

To simplify this, you know 16/16 = 1 so subtract 16 from the numerator which leaves 9/16

Your answer will be 1 and 9/16