Question

Marcella bought 12 /14 yards of ribbon. She uses 2 1/2 yards of ribbon for gift packages and 3 2/3 yards to tie balloons.

How many yards of ribbon does Marcella have left?

Enter your answer as a mixed number in simplest form by filling in the boxes.

Answer 1

`6(1)/(12)` yards

Explanation:

Marcella bought 12 1/4 yards of ribbon. She uses 2 1/2 yards of ribbon for gift packages and 3 2/3 yards to tie balloons.

The amount ribbon she had at the beginning:
`12(1)/(4)`

The amount she used:
`2(1)/(2) +3(2)/(3)\\`

Our expression:
`12(1)/(4) -(2(1)/(2) +3(2)/(3) )`

LCM of 2, 3, and 4: 12

2:

2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20

3:

3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18

4:

4, 8, 12, 16, 20

`12(1)/(4) -(2(1)/(2) +3(2)/(3) )\\\\(4*12+1)/(4) -((2*2+1)/(2) +(3*3+2)/(3))\\\\(49)/(4)-((5)/(2)+(11)/(3))\\\\(147)/(12)-((30)/(12)+(44)/(12))\\\\(147)/(12)-(74)/(12)\\\\(73)/(12)\\\\6(1)/(12)`

Therefore, Marcella will have
`6(1)/(12)` yards of ribbons left.

Hope this helps!