Question

On Sunday, Sheldon bought 4 1/2 kg of plant food. He used 1 2/3 kg on his strawberry plants and used 1/6 kg on his tomato plants. How many kilograms of plant food did Sheldon have left?

Answer 1

Given:

Total quantity of plant foot Sheldon bought = 4½ kg

Quantity used on strawberry plant = 1⅔ kg

Quantity used on tomato plants = ⅙ kg

To find the amount of plant food left, use the formula:

Amount left = Total - amount used on strawberry pant - amount used on tomato plants

Thus, we have:

`\begin{gathered} \text{Amount left = 4}(1)/(2)-1(2)/(3)-(1)/(6) \\ \\ \end{gathered}`

Convert the mixed fractions to improper fractions:

`\begin{gathered} =(9)/(2)-(5)/(3)-(1)/(6) \\ \end{gathered}`

Find the LCM:

GCF of 2, 3, and 6 = 6

Divide the LCM by each denominator and multiply the result by their respective numerators and evaluate.

`\begin{gathered} (9)/(2)-(5)/(3)-(1)/(6) \\ \\ (27-10-1)/(6) \\ \\ =(16)/(6) \\ \\ =(8)/(3) \\ \\ =2(2)/(3) \end{gathered}`

Therefore, the amount of plant food left is 2⅔ kg

ANSWER:

`2(2)/(3)\text{ kg}`