Question

How do you do this equation Laura's paper airplane flew 8 1/6 feet. That was 2 3/4 feet farther than Max's plane flew. Write and solve an equation to show how far Max's paper airplane flew.

Answer 1

Answer:

• laura's distance = max's distance + 2 3/4 feet
• max's distance = 5 feet 5 inches

Step-by-step explanation:

If you consider the English-language meaning of the description of the distances, you can see there might be several ways you could write an equation that says the same thing. Some of them are ...

  laura's distance = max's distance + 2 3/4 feet

  laura's distance - max's distance = 2 3/4 feet

  laura's distance - 2 3/4 feet = max's distance

The first of these equations is shown as an answer above. The last of these equations gives max's distance directly, so is the most useful for finding that value.

  laura's distance - 2 3/4 feet = max's distance

  8 1/6 feet - 2 3/4 feet = max's distance

  5 5/12 feet = max's distance . . . . . . do the arithmetic

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Describing addition and subtraction of mixed numbers is beyond the scope of this answer. Many calculators can work with fractions directly, in case you cannot do it by hand.