Fraction word problem HELP!

Question

I am an adult trying to help a 5th grade child with this question.

 

Can someone show me how to solve it step by step so I can explain it to her?

 

Brendan tried to fill an empty vase with 6 and 1/6 cups of water, but he accidentally spilled 1 and 2/3 cups of water onto the floor. If he poured the rest of the water into the vase, how many cups of water ended up in the vase?

 

[At first I thought I'd change the 2/3 to 4/6 so both fractions would have the same denominator, but I got stuck subtracting 4/6 from 1/6, if this makes sense]. THANK YOU! 

Answer 1

It is good to work with a common denominator.  Let us work with 6.

 

He started with 6 and 1/6 cups of water.  That is (36 + 1)/6 = 37/6 cups of water.

 

He spilled 1 and 2/3 cups.  That is (3 + 2)/3 = 5/3 cups = 10/6 cups.

 

Subtract what he spilled from what he started with.

 

37/6 - 10/6 = (37 - 10)/6 = 27/6 = (24 + 3)/6 = 4 and 3/6 cups = 4 and 1/2 cups.  That is what he finally poured.

Answer 2

You correctly translated the question:

   "What is 6 1/6 minus 1 2/3 ?"

 

The problem:

    6  1/6

 - 1   2/3

-----------

 

O.K. get a common denominator:

    6  1/6
 - 1   4/6
-----------

 

Now, borrow 1 (which is 6/6):

 

    5  7/6
 - 1   4/6
-----------

   4   3/6

 

And, you may reduce the fraction:

   4  1/2  cups of water were poured into the vase.

 

Check:

  Is 4 1/2 + 1 2/3 = 6 1/6   ?

      4 3/6 + 1 4/6 = 6 1/6   ?

        5 7/6 = 6 1/6   ?

       6 1/6 = 6 1/6   ?yes