Mayor 3/5 asked,
“How much is the special going to cost me?” “Well, I'm
not sure,” said 4/6. "But, I'll help you figure it
out."
“Let me see,'' said Mayor 1. "The burger costs 1 and an 1/8. I'm good at adding whole numbers. So I'll put the 1 aside. Next I'll add the fractional parts: 1/2 + 1/8 + 3/4. Now, I’ll add up the numerators 1 + 1 + 3 which equals 5. The denominators 2 + 8 + 4 add up to 14. See I told you I'm good at adding whole numbers. So what I owe - drum roll please - is $1 and 5/14."
4/6 stared befuddled. Then said, "What? I wouldn't pay that amount."
"Why not?" asked the mayor of Number Town.
"Because it's WRONG," replied 4/6. "Look. If we add their fraction IDs you will quickly see that 1 & 5/14 can't be right." Below are the pieces to be added.
“Let me see,'' said Mayor 1. "The burger costs 1 and an 1/8. I'm good at adding whole numbers. So I'll put the 1 aside. Next I'll add the fractional parts: 1/2 + 1/8 + 3/4. Now, I’ll add up the numerators 1 + 1 + 3 which equals 5. The denominators 2 + 8 + 4 add up to 14. See I told you I'm good at adding whole numbers. So what I owe - drum roll please - is $1 and 5/14."
4/6 stared befuddled. Then said, "What? I wouldn't pay that amount."
"Why not?" asked the mayor of Number Town.
"Because it's WRONG," replied 4/6. "Look. If we add their fraction IDs you will quickly see that 1 & 5/14 can't be right." Below are the pieces to be added.
"If the
dark sections are candy," continued 4/6,
"and you ate all of the candy, how much would you
eat?"