Martin

Martin is making a model of a Native American canoe. He has 5 1/2 feet of wood. He uses 2 3/4 feet for the hull and 1 1/4 feet for a paddle. How much wood does he have left? Martin has x feet of wood left.

Correct answer:

x =  1 ¹⁄₂ = 3/2 ft

Step-by-step explanation:

$$\begin{gathered} a=5\frac{1}{2}=5+\frac{1}{2}=\frac{5\cdot 2+1}{2}=\frac{10+1}{2}=\frac{11}{2}=5.5\text{ft} \\ b=2\frac{3}{4}=2+\frac{3}{4}=\frac{2\cdot 4+3}{4}=\frac{8+3}{4}=\frac{11}{4}=2.75\text{ft} \\ c=1\frac{1}{4}=1+\frac{1}{4}=\frac{1\cdot 4+1}{4}=\frac{4+1}{4}=\frac{5}{4}=1.25\text{ft} \\ x=a-b-c=\frac{11}{2}-\frac{11}{4}-\frac{5}{4}=\frac{22}{4}-\frac{11}{4}-\frac{5}{4}=\frac{22-11-5}{4}=\frac{6}{4}=\frac{3}{2}\text{ft}=1\frac{1}{2}\text{ft}=1.5\text{ft} \end{gathered}$$

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