SOLUTION: debbie cuts a piece of wood measuring 2(1)/(2)in into two equal pieces. how long is each piece ?

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Question 592810: debbie cuts a piece of wood measuring 2(1)/(2)in into two equal pieces. how long is each piece ?
Found 2 solutions by rfer, jim_thompson5910:
Answer by rfer(16322) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
(2(1)/2)/2
2/2=1/2=0.5 in ea

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Start by converting the given mixed number to an improper fraction.

$2 \frac{1}{2} = 2 + \frac{1}{2}$

$2 \frac{1}{2} = \frac{2}{1} + \frac{1}{2}$

$2 \frac{1}{2} = \frac{2*2}{1*2} + \frac{1}{2}$

$2 \frac{1}{2} = \frac{4}{2} + \frac{1}{2}$

$2 \frac{1}{2} = \frac{4+1}{2}$

$2 \frac{1}{2} = \frac{5}{2}$
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Now that we know that $2 \frac{1}{2} = \frac{5}{2}$ , we can divide it in half

$\frac{2 \frac{1}{2}}{2} = \frac{\frac{5}{2}}{2}$

$\frac{2 \frac{1}{2}}{2} = \frac{\frac{5}{2}}{\frac{2}{1}}$

$\frac{2 \frac{1}{2}}{2} = \frac{5}{2}\frac{1}{2}$

$\frac{2 \frac{1}{2}}{2} = \frac{5*1}{2*2}$

$\frac{2 \frac{1}{2}}{2} = \frac{5}{4}$

Now convert back to a mixed number.

$\frac{5}{4} = \frac{4+1}{4}$

$\frac{5}{4} = \frac{4}{4}+\frac{1}{4}$

$\frac{5}{4} = 1+\frac{1}{4}$

$\frac{5}{4} = 1\frac{1}{4}$

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Answer:

So dividing a piece of wood measuring $2 \frac{1}{2}$ inches into two equal pieces means that each piece is $1\frac{1}{4}$ inches long.