A carpenter has a board that is 8 feet long. He cuts off two pieces. One piece is 3 1/2 feet long and the other is 2 1/3 feet long. How much of the board is left?
Total length of the board = 8 feet
Piece A = 3 1/2 feet
Piece B = 2 1/3 feet
Piece A + piece B
= 3 1/2 feet + 2 1/3 feet
= 7/2 + 7/3
= (21+14) / 6
= 35/6
= 5 5/6 feet
Length of the board remaining = Total length of the board - length of the two pieces
Positive indices mean we have to multiply the same number twice or thrice based on the value of the index. On the other hand, negative indices mean we have to divide by the same number twice or thrice based on the value of the index.
