SOLUTION: I had 3 1/2 lb... of trial mix and I ate 1/3 of a pound two days in a row. How much trial mix did I have left?

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Question 4081: I had 3 1/2 lb... of trial mix and I ate 1/3 of a pound two days in a row. How much trial mix did I have left?
Found 3 solutions by carl, cleomenius, Robee16:
Answer by carl(7) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
ok.. here we go...
lets work this backwards... 1/3 two days in a row... so.... 1/3 + 1/3 = 2/3 right?
Now we started with 3 1/2 and we ate 2/3 so.... there are a couple ways to work this but... i think we should change that 3 1/2 to an improper faction...
3 1/2 (change to improper faction) is 7/2 (how?? 3 x 2 = 6 + 1 = 7 over 2) got it??
now 7/2 - 2/3 (we need the same denomintor with fractions) so... think 6...
7/2 becomes 21/6 (how?? 2 / 6 = 3 x 7 = 21) and 2/3 becomes 4/6 (how?? 3 / 6 = 2 x 2 = 4)
SO.... 21/6 - 4/6 = 17/6 (reduce the improper faction) (how?? 6 goes into 17 2 times (12) with 5 left over... put the 5 over 12)
the final answer is 2 5/6.
Got it?
Carl

Answer by cleomenius(959) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I would do this as follows:
31%2F2 - 1%2F3 - 1%2F3
7%2F2 - 1%2F3 - 1%2F3
21%2F6 - 2%2F6 - 2%2F6
= 17%2F6 = 25%2F6 pounds left.


Answer by Robee16(18) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
>> 3%261%2F2 - %281%2F3%29%2B%281%2F3%29

>> 7%2F2 - 2%2F3

>> 21%2F6 - 4%2F6 = 17%2F6 = 2%265%2F6+pounds+left