Question 165710
<font size = 7 color = "red"><b>Edwin's solution:</b></font>

I am trying to figure out how to solve this problem and have submitted it three times, still no answer 
1/2 divided by 3/8+5*(1/3) 
so, i am assuming the problem should written out like this:
1/2/3/8+5+(1/3)
<pre><font size = 4 color = "indigo"><b>
It's because we are not sure of the way it's written in your
book or worksheet, and we don't want to guess and guess it
wrong.

{{{ matrix(1,7, 1/2,"÷", 3/8, "+", 5, "×", 1/3)  }}}

If it's written this way in your book or worksheet, then the
operation that is given the highest priority here, since there
are no parentheses or exponents, is multiplication or division
going left to right:

We do the {{{ matrix(1,3, 1/2,"÷", 3/8)}}} first

{{{ matrix(1,11, 1/2,"÷", 3/8, "=", 1/2, "×", 8/3, "=", 8/6, "=", 4/3   )}}}

Then we replace the {{{ matrix(1,3, 1/2,"÷", 3/8)}}} by {{{4/3}}}.
So far we have:
{{{ matrix(1,5, 4/3,"+", 5, "×", 1/3)  }}}

Now the operation that is given the highest priority here is the
multiplication or division going left to right.  So,

We do the {{{ matrix(1,3, 5,"×", 1/3)}}} first

{{{ matrix(1,9, 5,"×", 1/3, "=", 5/1, "×", 1/3, "=", 5/3)}}}

Then we replace the {{{ matrix(1,3, 5,"×", 1/3)}}} by {{{5/3}}}.
So far we have:

{{{ matrix(1,3, 4/3,"+", 5/3)  }}}

and since the denominators are the same, we can just add the
numerators and get

{{{9/3}}}

which reduces to just

{{{3}}}.

-------------

However, you may have meant this:

{{{ matrix(1,3,1/2,"÷", (matrix(1,5,3/8,"+",5,"×",1/3)))  }}}

Then we'd do what's in the parentheses first.

Now the operation that is given the highest priority here is the
multiplication or division going left to right.  So,

Then within the parentheses, we'd do the {{{ matrix(1,3, 5,"×", 1/3)}}} 
first:

{{{ matrix(1,9, 5,"×", 1/3, "=", 5/1, "×", 1/3, "=", 5/3)}}}

Then we replace the {{{ matrix(1,3, 5,"×", 1/3)}}} by {{{5/3}}}.
So far we have:

{{{ matrix(1,3,1/2,"÷", (matrix(1,3,3/8,"+",5/3)))  }}}

Then, still working inside the parentheses, we'd have to get
a LCD of 24, changing {{{3/8}}} to {{{9/24}}} and {{{5/3}}} to
{{{40/24}}} and we'd have this within the parentheses:
         {{{matrix(1,3,9/24,"+",40/24)}}}
         {{{9/24+40/24=49/24}}}

and we'd replace the {{{( matrix(1,3,3/8,"+",5/3) )}}} by {{{49/24}}}    

So we'd have this:

{{{ matrix(1,3,1/2,"÷", 49/24)  }}}

And finally we'd invert the second fraction and change the
division to a multiplication:

{{{ matrix(1,3,1/2,"×", 24/49)  }}}

Then finally

{{{ matrix(1,7,1/2,"×", 24/49, "=", 24/98, "=", 12/49)  }}}

So since nobody could tell which of those you meant, nobody
answered.

Edwin</pre>