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Beginning Algebra
Answer/Discussion to Practice Problems
Tutorial 3: Fractions



 

checkAnswer/Discussion to 1a

100


 
ad1a
*Rewrite 100 as a product of primes

 


 

checkAnswer/Discussion to 2a

problem 2a


 

 
ad2a1
*Rewrite 75 as a product of primes
*Rewrite 30 as a product of primes

 

 
ad2a2
*Div. the common factors of 3 and 5 out of both num. and den.

 


 

checkAnswer/Discussion to 2b

problem 2b


 

 
ad2b1
*Rewrite 9 as a product of primes

 

 
ad2b2
*There are no common factors to divide out

 

 


 

checkAnswer/Discussion to 3a

problem 3a


 
ad3a
*Write as prod. of num. over prod. of den.

*Div. the common factors of 2 and 5 out of both num. and den.

 


 

 


 

checkAnswer/Discussion to 3b

problem 3b


 
ad3b
*Rewrite as the mult. of the reciprocal
 

*Write as prod. of num. over prod. of den.

*Div. the common factor of 7 out of both num. and den.

 


 


 

checkAnswer/Discussion to 3c

problem 3c


 
Step 1: Combine the numerators together.
AND
Step 2: Put the sum or difference found in step 1 over the common denominator.

 
ad3c1

*Write the sum over the common den.

 

 
ad3c2
*Div. the common factor of 7 out of both num. and den.
 

 


 


 

checkAnswer/Discussion to 3d

problem 3d


 
Rewriting the numbers as fractions we get:

 
ad3d1

*Rewrite whole number 5 as 5/1
*Rewrite mixed number 2 1/4 as 9/4

 

 
The first fraction has a denominator of 1 and the second fraction has a denominator of 4.  What is the smallest number that is divisible by both 1 and 4.  If you said 4, you are correct? 

Therefore, the LCD is 4.


 

 
ad3d2
*What number times 1  will result in 4?

*Multiply num. and den. by 4.
 


 
The fraction 9/4 already has a denominator of 4, so we do not have to rewrite it.

 

 
ad3d3

*Write the difference over the common den.

 


 
Note that this fraction is in simplest form.  There are no common factors that we can divide out of the numerator and denominator

 


 

checkAnswer/Discussion to 3e

problem 3e


 

 
The first fraction has a denominator of 4, the second has a denominator of 5, and the third has a denominator of 10.  What is the smallest number that is divisible by 4, 5, and 10?  If you said 20, you are correct? 

Therefore, the LCD is 20.


 

 
Writing an equivalent fraction of 3/4 with the LCD of 20 we get:

 
ad3e1
*What number times 4  will result in 20?

*Multiply num. and den. by 5.
 


 
Writing an equivalent fraction of 2/5 with the LCD of 20 we get:

 
ad3e2
*What number times 5  will result in 20?

*Multiply num. and den. by 4.
 


 
Writing an equivalent fraction of 7/10 with the LCD of 20 we get:

 
ad3e3
*What number times 10 will result in 20?

*Multiply num. and den. by 2.
 


 
 

 
ad3e4

 

*Write the sum and difference over the common den.
 

 


 

 

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Last revised on July 24, 2011 by Kim Seward.
All contents copyright (C) 2001 - 2011, WTAMU and Kim Seward. All rights reserved.