Question

Estimate 1 7/8 - 1 1/2

Answer 1

Answer:

1⅞ - 1½ ≈ ½

Step-by-step explanation:

Estimation is mental arithmetic. Practice until you can do this in your head.

Here's one way to estimate with mxed numbers.

Step 1. Separate into whole number and fractional parts

1⅞ - 1½ = 1 + ⅞ - 1 - ½

Step 2. Solve the whole number parts

1 - 1 = 0

Step 3. Solve the fraction parts by estimating.

We will round to the nearest ½, so we should round up a number greater than ¾.

(a) ⅞ is greater than ⁶/₈ (¾), so we round it up to ⁸/₈:

⅞ - ½ ≈ ⁸/₈ - ½

(b) Convert each fraction to a common denominator.

We can write ⁸/₈ as ²/₂

⁸/₈ - ½ = ²/₂ - ½

(c) Solve the fraction part

²/₂ - ½ = ½

Step 4. Combine the whole and fraction parts

0 + ½ = ½  

So, 1⅞ - 1½ ≈ ½