Canada landscape

About ½ of Canada is covered in forest, and 1/12 is covered in freshwater. What fraction of Canada is not covered in either forest or freshwater? Hint - add first and then subtract from the total.

Correct answer:

x =  5/12

Step-by-step explanation:

$$\begin{gathered} a=\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{12}=\frac{6}{12}+\frac{1}{12}=\frac{6+1}{12}=\frac{7}{12}\doteq 0.5833 \\ x=1-a=1-\frac{7}{12}=\frac{1\cdot 12}{12}-\frac{7}{12}=\frac{12}{12}-\frac{7}{12}=\frac{12-7}{12}=\frac{5}{12}=0.4167 \end{gathered}$$

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