SOLUTION: A 5-inch breadstick is broken into 3 pieces. One piece is 2 1/2 inches long; the second is 1 3/4 inches long. how long is the third piece?

Question 204272: A 5-inch breadstick is broken into 3 pieces. One piece is 2 1/2 inches long; the second is 1 3/4 inches long. how long is the third piece?
Answer by PRMath(133) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The first piece is 2
The 2nd is 1

Let's add those by first changing your two MIXED fractions to IMPROPER fractions.

Take 2 and multiply the 2 in the denominator times the 2 in the fraction. Now add 1 from the numerator. (2 * 2) + 1 = 5
Put the 5 in the numerator and keep the 2 in the denominator and you get:

Therefore: 2 =

Let's now take 1 and change it to an improper fraction by multiplying the 4 in the denominator times the 1. Now add 3 from the numerator. (4 * 1) + 3 = 7.
Put the 7 in the numerator and keep the 4 in the denominator and you get:

Therefore: 1 =

These two fractions represent the TOTAL AMOUNT of what is taken from the WHOLE 5 inch loaf so far. What is the TOTAL amount? Let's add the two fractions....

+ We have to find a common denominator. How about 4?
What does a denominator of 4 do to the first fraction? WELL, for you ask yourself: "How many times does 2 go into 4? The answer is 2.
SO you multiply 2 times 5 in the numerator and you get:

Now let's add --- both fractions have a common denominator:

=

Therefore, the TWO pieces added together add up to be . How much of the bread is left? Let's just subtract the 2 pieces (which was this fraction:) from the whole 5 inch loaf.

- . Once again, how about if we make our common denominator 4? How many times does 1 go into 4? The answer is 4, so let's multiply 4 times 5 in the numerator and we get:

SO now that we have two common denominators, we can subtract:

- =

Therefore, the third piece of the bread is inch long.

I hope this helps. :-)
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