Simplify this math problem 1/3 (1 1/2 + 5/9 )

Hi Wanda,

 

Order of operations says that you have to do what's on the inside of the parentheses first.

 

(1 1/2 + 5/9)

 

When adding fractions, it is best to not have mixed numbers, so you should rewrite the 1 1/2 as a compound fraction.

1 1/2 = 1*2+1 / 2 = 3/2

 

= 3/2 + 5/9

 

To add fractions, you need a common denominator. In this case, 2 and 9 have no common factors, so the common denominator is 2*9=18. To get this, you need to multiply the first fraction by 1 = 9/9, and the second fraction by 1 = 2/2

 

= 3/2 * 9/9 + 5/9 * 2/2

= 27/18 + 10/18

 

Now you can add the numerators

= 37/18

 

Now you can go back to the original problem and finish it off.

 

1/3 (1 1/2 + 5/9)

= 1/3 (37/18)

= 1*37 / 3*18

= 37/54