Question

The lumberyard where you work sold a customer two boards . They measure 10 1/4 feet and 8 2/4 feet what is the total of the two boards

Answer 1

If you add the two numbers, 10 +8 is 18.  The fractional parts are 1/4 and 2/4 which equals 3/4.  So the total length is 18 and 3/4 feet.

Answer 2

10 1/4 + 8 2/4 = 18 3/4 feet