Answer: 1.5 miles
This is equivalent to 3/2 as an improper fraction and 1 & 1/2 as a mixed number.
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Step-by-step explanation:
x = total distance in miles
The train and monorail take 1/3 and 1/2 of the total distance respectively
Add up those fractions to get
1/3 + 1/2 = 2/6 + 3/6 = 5/6
Remember that you can only add fractions when the denominators are the same.
5/6 of the total distance consists of the train and monorail.
That means the walking portion must be 1 - 5/6 = 6/6 - 5/6 = 1/6 of the total distance.
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In short, we found that 1/6 of the total distance consists of walking.
(1/6)x = 1/4 mile
x/6 = 1/4
4x = 6*1
4x = 6
x = 6/4
x = 3/2
x = 1.5 miles is the total distance
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Check:
1/6 of x = 1/6 of 3/2 = (1/6)*(3/2) = 3/12 = 1/4 mile walking
1/3 of x = (1/3)*(3/2) = 3/6 = 1/2 mile on the train
1/2 of x = (1/2)*(3/2) = 3/4 of a mile on the monorail
1/4 + 1/2 + 3/4 = 1/4 + 2/4 + 3/4 = 6/4 = 3/2 = 1.5 miles total
This confirms our answer.