Fraction explanation...

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enema
Posts: 180
Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2014 1:45 pm

Fraction explanation...

Post by enema »

Hi, could anyone please identify which of these answers is correct, and help explain why...

"From 1 3/8 (ie one and three eighths) subtract 1/2 + 3/4"

I worked it out as 11/8 - 4/8 + 6/8 = 13/8 ie 1 and 5/8, DD worked out 11/8 - (4/8 + 6/8 ie 10/8) = 1/8 ie one eighth. As far as I had thought, in BODMAS the addition and subtraction had equal weighting, but is it not therefore the case with decimals/fractions?
Jazz-UK
Posts: 237
Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2012 8:05 pm

Re: Fraction explanation...

Post by Jazz-UK »

I agree this is confusing, and the way I would have interpreted it is;

From 1 3/8 subtract (1/2 + 3/4) and therefore ie would have said 1/8.

The combination of words and symbols does lead to ambiguity, and I'd say its a poorly written question.
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