Question

What is the distance around a triangle that has sides measuring 2 1/8 ft 3 1/2 ft and 2 and 1/2 ft

Answer 1

Check the picture below.

so first off, let's convert the mixed fractions to "improper fractions", and then sum them up.

$\bf \stackrel{mixed}{3\frac{1}{2}}\implies \cfrac{3\cdot 2+1}{2}\implies \stackrel{improper}{\cfrac{7}{2}} \\\\\\ \stackrel{mixed}{2\frac{1}{8}}\implies \cfrac{2\cdot 8+1}{8}\implies \stackrel{improper}{\cfrac{17}{8}} \\\\\\ \stackrel{mixed}{2\frac{1}{2}}\implies \cfrac{2\cdot 2+1}{2}\implies \stackrel{improper}{\cfrac{5}{2}}\\\\ -------------------------------$

$\bf \cfrac{7}{2}+\cfrac{17}{8}+\cfrac{5}{2}\impliedby \textit{using the LCD of 8}\implies \cfrac{(4\cdot 7)+(1\cdot 17)+(4\cdot 5)}{8} \\\\\\ \cfrac{28+17+20}{8}\implies \cfrac{65}{8}\implies 8\frac{1}{8}$