document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=399727>Question 399727</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Attempting to solve what looks like a simple problem, but keep coming up with the incorrect answer.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "5/4z - 3/8z\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The problem is written as a fraction, with one term directly above the other.  I've done the best I can to represent this here.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I came up with 2/4z, which I simplify to 2z.  Can you help? </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #283051 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solver91311><B>solver91311(24713)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=solver91311><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/cgi-bin/show-face.mpl?user=solver91311><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=283051\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <font face=\"Times New Roman\" size=\"+2\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Presuming you mean:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \frac{5}{4}z\ -\ \frac{3}{8}z\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "rather than\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \frac{5}{4z}\ -\ \frac{3}{8z}\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "which is an equally valid interpretation of what you wrote, proceed as follows:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \frac{5}{4}z\ -\ \frac{3}{8}z\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Find the LCD of 4 and 8.  Both 4 and 8 divide 8 evenly, so 8 is the LCD.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Convert <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large \frac{5}{4}\">.  You have to multiply the denominator by 2 to get from 4 to 8, so you have to multiply the numerator by 2 as well.  Result:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \frac{10}{8}z\ -\ \frac{3}{8}z\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now you can add the numerators.  10 plus -3 is 7, so:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \frac{7}{8}z\">\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now, for where I think you may have gone wrong.  You added 5 and -3 to get 2 and then simply ignored the fact that you had a different denominator in the second fraction.  Then, having erroneously decided that the sum was <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large \frac{2}{4}z\">, you changed <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\Large \frac{2}{4}\"> into 2.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Let's see if your arithmetic makes any sense.  I have one whole pizza and a quarter of a pizza.  The whole pizza is sliced into 8 slices, and the quarter pizza is two slices.  I give you the whole thing and tell you to eat what you want and calculate what you have when you are done.  You eat 3 of the slices and then, according to your arithmetic, you have 2 whole pizzas left.  I never believed that loaves and fishes story either.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "John<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=\"/cgi-bin/rendertex.cgi?\LARGE e^{i\pi} + 1 = 0\"><BR>\n" );
document.write( "My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it<BR>\n" );
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