In a given training week, a swimmer completes 1/4 mile on day one, 2/3 on day two and 3/7 mile one day three. How many total miles in a given week?

Question

Please help me . My choices are 151/140 3/70 3/8 or 37/35

Answer 1

Hi Jess--

 

Are you sure you copied the choices correctly? I think the right answer is 85/84.

 

You need to find a common denominator first, which would be 84 (multiply the 3 diff denoms together), and then for each fraction, whatever you did to each denom to make it 84, you do the same thing to the numerator.

 

For example, with 1/4, you need to multiply the denominator 4 by 21 to get it to be 84. So you multiply its numerator by the same thing. Your 1/4 becomes 21/24.

 

If you apply the same rules to the other fractions and add them together, you should get 85/84, or 1 and 1/84.

 

I think. :-)

 

Good luck,

 

Matt in NY