Question

A plot of land is 3/8 mile by 2 1/4 miles. Spencer solves 3/8•2 1/4 to find the area of the land in square miles. Enter numbers to complete Spencer’s calculations for the area.

Answer 1

9514 1404 393

Answer:

• 2
• 32
• 27

Step-by-step explanation:

The number 2 1/4 is split into the sum 2 + 1/4, then multiplied by 3/8. This gives ...

  $\displaystyle\frac{3}{8}\cdot2\frac{1}{4}=\left(\frac{3}{8}\cdot\boxed{2}\right)+\left(\frac{3}{8}\cdot\frac{1}{4}\right)\\\\=\frac{6}{8}+\frac{3}{\boxed{32}}=\frac{24}{32}+\frac{3}{32}=\frac{24+3}{32}\\\\=\frac{\boxed{27}}{32}$

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Of course, fractions are multiplied in the usual way:

  $\dfrac{a}{b}\cdot\dfrac{c}{d}=\dfrac{ac}{bd}$