document.write( "Question 309973: I need help with this equation (I got help last night, but its conflicting with a few other views)\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "12 1/2 + 1/ 1/3 =\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The 1 over the 1/3 confuses me, cause according to me this is 3\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So is it right to go 12 1/2 + 3 = ?\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(If you use funny signs...can you tell me what they are please?) \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Thanks for the help!
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #221705 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Well, think of 1 as \"1%2F1\". So this means that \"1%2F%281%2F3%29=%281%2F1%29%2F%281%2F3%29\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So our goal is to simplify \"%281%2F1%29%2F%281%2F3%29\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%281%2F1%29%2F%281%2F3%29\" Start with the given expression.\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%281%2F1%29%2A%283%2F1%29\" Multiply the first fraction \"1%2F1\" by the reciprocal of the second fraction \"1%2F3\" (ie 'flip' the second fraction and multiply)\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%281%2A3%29%2F%281%2A1%29\" Combine the fractions.\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"3%2F1\" Multiply\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"3\" Reduce.\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So \"1%2F%281%2F3%29=3\". It turns out that \"1%2F%281%2Fx%29=x\" for any 'x' that is not zero. For instance, if \"x=5\", then \"1%2F%281%2F5%29=5\". So this will save time in the future (hopefully you'll understand how it all works).\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So \"12%261%2F2%2B1%2F%281%2F3%29\" then becomes \"12%261%2F2%2B3\". Does this help you get moving in the right direction?
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" );