Sue is 11 3 4 years old. Joey is 1 3 8 years younger than Sue and Jane is 1 1 5 years younger than Joey. How old is Jane?

Answer 1

Hi Raen,

I believe you meant to write mixed numbers for the ages of each person in the word problem as follows:

11 3/4 years old (Sue)

1 3/8 years younger than Sue (Joey)

1 1/5 years younger than Joey (Jane)

In this case scenario:

Subtract the two mixed numbers: 11 3/4 - 1 3/8 from each other to determine Joey's age.

Subtract the mixed number, 1 1/5 from the difference of the above two mixed numbers.

Before subtracting any mixed numbers from each other, convert them into improper fractions first and then find a common denominator between them that way.

As improper fractions:

11 3/4 = 47/4

1 3/8 = 11/8

1 1/5 = 6/5

Now subtract:

47/4 - 11/8 (find the common denominator between 4 and 8)

We get 94/8 - 11/8 = 83/8 = 10 3/8

10 3/8 - 1 1/5 (find a common denominator between 8 and 5)

Once you solve the last mixed number subtraction problem, you will find the answer for how old Jane is. :)