Question 921790
#2,
{{{2&1/2}}} pounds in the purchased bag;
Used {{{1&3/4}}} pounds from the bag;
Amount of soil still in the bag, {{{2&1/2-1&3/4=2&2/4-1&3/4}}}, and you must borrow, for the same reason as when you subtract ordinary whole numbers.  


Is {{{1&3/4}}} smaller than {{{2&2/4}}}?
Yes.
Can you subtract {{{1&3/4}}} from {{{2&2/4}}}?
Yes.
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Arrange in columns by place value as you would if you had whole numbers.
Can you subtract {{{3/4}}} from {{{2/4}}}?
No.
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BORROW {{{4/4}}} from the {{{2}}}.
Showing in a row instead of in columns,
{{{2&1/2-1&3/4=2&2/4-1&3/4=(1+4/4+2/4)-(1+3/4)}}}
{{{(1+6/4)-(1+3/4)}}}
{{{highlight_green(3/4)}}}.


That amount was then divided into two equal parts and each part put into a separate bag.  A picture might help but making one is not to any extent convenient, so I show only numeric symbolism.


You want to DIVIDE {{{3/4}}} into two equal parts and  show this simplified number.  The simplest way is this:


{{{(3/4)(1/2)=(3*1)/(4*2)=highlight(3/8)}}}