how do you solve (2 3/6 + 1/3) x (3/5 - 1) / 0.2

Question

Don't understand the steps to follow

 

Answer 1

Always solve within parentheses first. Then multiply and divide in the order they appear. Then add or subtract. 

 

This is how we do it:

 

Set up your problem:

(2 3/6 + 1/3)X (3/5-1)/0.2

 

Start with the first parentheses. 2 3/6 + 1/3

 

Adjust so that both fractions have the same denominator. 2 3/6+ 1/3 = 2 3/6 + 2/6 = 15/6 + 2/6

 

Add. 15/6 + 2/6= 17/6

 

Set that aside. 

 

Now, we solve the other parentheses. 3/5-1

 

Again, give both numbers the same denominator and solve. 3/5-1 = 3/5-5/5 = -2/5

 

Now, our problem looks like this: 

 

17/6 x (-2/5)/0.2

 

Now we need to simplify the fraction.

 

Both the numerator and the denominator need to become whole numbers. Let's start by turning them both into decimals. 

(-2/5)/0.2 = -0.4/0.2 = 4/2 = 2

 

Now our problem looks like this:

 

17/6 x 2

 

We multiply and get this number: 34/6

 

We simplify: 34/6 = 17/3 = 5 2/3

 

Again, our steps for any problem are:

 

1.Parenthesis (multiple and divide first, then add and subtract)

2. Multiply and Divide

3. Add and Subtract