Question

To find the product of 3 7 × 2 9 , Cameron simplified 3 7 to 1 7 and then multiplied the fractions 1 7 and 2 9 to find the product 2 63 . What is Cameron's error? Cameron divided a factor in one of the numerators by the GCF but did not divide a factor in one of the denominators by the GCF. He should have simplified 2 9 to and multiplied 1 7 and to find the product .

Answer 1

Explanation:

Cameron task: 3/7 × 2/9

What he did:

• Simplify 3/7 to 1/7

• mulitiplied the fractions 1/7 and 2/9

Cameron's error was:

• The "simplification":

To simplify a fraction is to reduce to the lowest possible multiple. Illustration:

Simplify 16/100

= 2/25

But in the case of 3/7, the answer is 3/7.

What Cameron would have done:

1. 3/7 = 2/7 + 1/7

3/7 × 2/9 = (2/7 × 2/9) + (1/7 × 2/9)

= 4/63 + 2/63

= 6/63

2. since he simplified 3/7 to 1/7

1/7 = 3/7 × 1/3

Therefore,

3/7 × 2/9 = 1/7 × (2/9 × 3)

= 1/7 × 6/9

= 6/63