Question

there are 5 cookies on a plate. Alicia eats 1 1/2 cookies stuart eats 2 1/3 cookies how many cookies are left on the plate?

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

Alicia eats 1 and 1/2 (Which means 1 cookie and a half of a cookie, or 0.5.)

Stuart eats 2 and 1/3 (Which means 2 cookies and one third of a cookie, or 0.3333+. Basically, 1/3 means let's say you have a pie. You cut the pie into 3 separate pieces. You eat 2 seperate pieces. You have one left. You have one out of the three, which means 1/3.)

So, you want to  add both of those up.

1 + 2 = 3

1/2 + 1/3

To add fractions, you have to get the denominators (Bottom number of the fraction) equal.

So, the least common multiple (LCM) is 6.

Why? let's lay them out.

2: 2, 4, 6

3: 3, 6

These are the LEAST common multiple.

So, you should have

1/6 and 1/6.

Now add the amount of times you did to the numerator (Top number)

So, 1/2

2 + 2 + 2 = 6

3 times, so multiply the numerator by 3.

1 x 3 = 3

3/6

So next, 1/3.

3 + 3 = 6

2 times, so multiply the numerator by 2.

2/6.

Add them both

2/6 + 3/6 = 5/6 (Do not add denominator if they are equal)

+ 3

3 and 5/6 cookies eaten, so

5 - 3 5/6 = 1 & 1/6

1 and 1/6 cookies are left on the plate.