document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=204272>Question 204272</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 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? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #154223 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=PRMath><B>PRMath(133)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-09.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=PRMath><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=154223\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The first piece is 2<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The 2nd is 1<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let's add those by first changing your two MIXED fractions to IMPROPER fractions.  \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Take 2 <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and multiply the 2 in the denominator times the 2 in the fraction.  Now add 1 from the numerator.  (2 * 2) + 1 = 5\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Put the 5 in the numerator and keep the 2 in the denominator and you get:  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Therefore:   2 <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > =  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let's now take 1 <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > 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.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Put the 7 in the numerator and keep the 4 in the denominator and you get: <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=7%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"7%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Therefore:  1 <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > = <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=7%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"7%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "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....\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > + <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=7%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"7%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >   We have to find a common denominator.  How about 4?\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "What does a denominator of 4 do to the first fraction?  WELL, for <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5%2F2 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5%2F2\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > you ask yourself: \"How many times does 2 go into 4?  The answer is 2.  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "SO you multiply 2 times 5 in the numerator and you get:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=10%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"10%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now let's add --- both fractions have a common denominator:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=10%2F4+%2B+7%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"10%2F4+%2B+7%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > = <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=17%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"17%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Therefore, the TWO pieces added together add up to be <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=17%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"17%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.  How much of the bread is left?  Let's just subtract the 2 pieces (which was this fraction:<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=17%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"17%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >) from the whole 5 inch loaf.  \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5%2F1 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5%2F1\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > - <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=17%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"17%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.  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:  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=20%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"20%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "SO now that we have two common denominators, we can subtract:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=20%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"20%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > - <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=17%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"17%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > = <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Therefore, the third piece of the bread is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > inch long.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I hope this helps. :-) </SPAN>\n" );
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