Question

Consider the numbers 14.25 and 0.86.

Part A

Which operation would result in the greatest solution, addition or multiplication? Explain why.

Part B

Is there any way to divide these numbers in order to find a greater number than the solutions found in Part A? Explain why or why not.

Answer 1

Part A

The given numbers are 14.25 and 0.86

By multiplying the two numbers, we have;

14.25 × 0.86 = 12.255

By adding the two numbers, we have;

14.25 + 0.86 = 15.11

Therefore, addition gives the greatest solution because one of the number is a fraction less than one

Part B

By dividing the two numbers (Dividing the larger number, 14.25 by the smaller number 0.86), we have 14.25/0.86 ≈ 16.57

Therefore, dividing the larger number by the smaller fraction gives a solution larger than the solution found in part A because the larger number multiplied by (1 - the inverse smaller fraction number) is larger than the value of the smaller (fraction) number

Explanation: