Question

Jackie has two new puppies. One weighs 5 9/16 pounds and the other weighs 6 1/4 pounds. Find the difference in their weights.

Answer 1

The difference in weights =
`(11)/(16)` pounds

Explanation:

"DIFFERENCE" means to subtract their weights. We will subtract lesser amount from the greater amount to get our answer.

Also, we need to first make these mixed numbers into improper fractions by using the rule below:

If a number is given in this form:

`a(b)/(c)`

We can do the operation below to make it improper fraction:

`a(b)/(c)=((a*c)+b)/(c)`

The bigger number is
`6(1)/(4)`. So we subtract the other from this after changing to improper fraction.

`6(1)/(4)=((6*4)+1)/(4)=(25)/(4)`

and

`5(9)/(16)=((5*16)+9)/(16)=(89)/(16)`

Now, we subtract via doing LCM and get our answer:

`(25)/(4)-(89)/(16)\\=(25(4)-89)/(16)\\=(100-89)/(16)\\=(11)/(16)`

The difference in weights =
`(11)/(16)` pounds