SOLUTION: if 5 people equally share 3 apples what fraction of an apple does each get?

Algebra ->  Numeric Fractions Calculators, Lesson and Practice -> SOLUTION: if 5 people equally share 3 apples what fraction of an apple does each get?      Log On


   



Question 853613: if 5 people equally share 3 apples what fraction of an apple does each get?
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
One way to think of it is:
Suppose you give 5 apples to 5 people
Each person gets 1 apple
--------------------------
Now suppose you want to take away 1 apple
so that each person still has the same share
That means you take away 1/5 of an apple
from each person
--------------------------
Now take away 1 more apple leaving each
person with the same share
So, you take away 1/5 of an apple
from each person again
--------------------------
Now the 5 people have +5+-+2+=+3+ apples
and each person has +1+-+1%2F5+-+1%2F5+
+1+-+2%2F5+=+3%2F5+, so each person ends up with
3/5 of an apple
---------------
Hope this helps