Joy read 5/10 of a book consisting of 280 pages. How many pages are still left to be read?

Question



Answer 1

Hello Reem,

Whenever you see in a word problem a quantity "of" another, be sure you will need to multiply to solve the problem.

I am assuming the above problem is as follows: "Joy read 5/10 of a book consisting of 280 pages," correct? I am going to solve with this assumption, and if I am incorrect, please just let me know in the comment section if you would.

First, notice the fraction 5/10. You most likely know that 5/10 is the exact same thing as 1/2 when we reduce the fraction. If we are looking at 1/2 of 280 pages, we know that the answer is 140 pages. How?

1/2 * 280/1 is the problem placed in another form, right? And when you have one half of something you simply divide whatever it is that you have one half of by two, right? In the fractional problem I placed here, you simply divide the denominator of 2 on the left into the 280 which is the numerator on the right, okay.

But let's say for a moment, that you neglected to reduce the fraction of 5/10 to 1/2, okay. You would then solve as follows:

5/10 * 280/1 In this case Reem, you multiply the numerator from the left with the right, and the denominator of the left with the denominator on the right, okay.

Doing so, solving the problem as follows:

5/10 * 280/1 = 1400/10

Now, you divide the 1400 by 10 which equals 140, fair enough? Also I should mention that if you multiply two fractions together, and do so without reducing either fraction first, then often you will need to reduce the fraction you have as an answer.

In sum, the answer to your problem is 140 pages. Since the book has 280 pages, when you subtract the 140 pages already read, then there are only 140 pages left to read.

I hope my solution assists you and that you have a great weekend, Should you need further clarity regarding this solution, please feel free to leave them in the comment section beneath this solution. Also, if you are in need of one on one tutoring, please feel free to send me or any tutor a request for a lesson. Best!