“That's
cool,” said Mayor 1. “But
what if I don't have a calculator handy?”
4/6 suggested a method to do that: “Find a common denominator for the three numbers (1/2, 1 1/8, 3/4) you are adding.”
Notice that all three numbers can be split into 8 pieces. 1 1/8 is really 9/8 improperly speaking. 1/2 can become 4/8 and 3/4 can be 6/8. So we are now adding 4/8, 9/8 and 6/8. Since the denominators are all the same, you can add the numerators and get 19/8. Another untidy result! But we can correct that by making it a mixed number by first noticing that there are two wholes (8/8 + 8/8) and 3/8 left over, then simplifying to 2 3/8.
“So you owe $2 3/8,” said 4/6. Mayor 1 sighed and replied, “There's gotta be a better way to handle this money stuff.”
“Ahhh,” said 4/6. “Your wish may be coming soon via another town in the woods on the other side of the mountains.”
Mayor 1 pondered what 4/6 just said then shrugged its shoulders. Meanwhile, the waiter brought their lunch. Mayor 1 ate and drank the whole meal while 4/6 ate just 2/3. Mayor 3/5 sat back, smiled and enjoyed the company. They then went to pay the cashier.
“Here's 3 dollars. Keep the change as a tip,” Mayor 1 said as he handed the money to the cashier. “Thanks,” said the cashier as she handed the mayor its change. Mayor 1 replied “What am I going to do with a quarter?”
“Quarter?” queried the cashier, “3 dollars minus 2 and 5/8 of a dollar is not a quarter. It's 3/8s of a dollar. Do you see why?”
“Not sure,” replied Mayor 1.
4/6 suggested a method to do that: “Find a common denominator for the three numbers (1/2, 1 1/8, 3/4) you are adding.”
Notice that all three numbers can be split into 8 pieces. 1 1/8 is really 9/8 improperly speaking. 1/2 can become 4/8 and 3/4 can be 6/8. So we are now adding 4/8, 9/8 and 6/8. Since the denominators are all the same, you can add the numerators and get 19/8. Another untidy result! But we can correct that by making it a mixed number by first noticing that there are two wholes (8/8 + 8/8) and 3/8 left over, then simplifying to 2 3/8.
“So you owe $2 3/8,” said 4/6. Mayor 1 sighed and replied, “There's gotta be a better way to handle this money stuff.”
“Ahhh,” said 4/6. “Your wish may be coming soon via another town in the woods on the other side of the mountains.”
Mayor 1 pondered what 4/6 just said then shrugged its shoulders. Meanwhile, the waiter brought their lunch. Mayor 1 ate and drank the whole meal while 4/6 ate just 2/3. Mayor 3/5 sat back, smiled and enjoyed the company. They then went to pay the cashier.
“Here's 3 dollars. Keep the change as a tip,” Mayor 1 said as he handed the money to the cashier. “Thanks,” said the cashier as she handed the mayor its change. Mayor 1 replied “What am I going to do with a quarter?”
“Quarter?” queried the cashier, “3 dollars minus 2 and 5/8 of a dollar is not a quarter. It's 3/8s of a dollar. Do you see why?”
“Not sure,” replied Mayor 1.