How do you simplify 5 1/2 + 2 7/9?

1 Answer
May 21, 2018

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, convert each number from a mixed number into an improper fraction:

5 1/2 = 5 + 1/2 = (2/2 xx 5) + 1/2 = 10/2 + 1/2 = (10 + 1)/2 = 11/2

2 7/9 = 2 + 7/9 = (9/9 xx 2) + 7/9 = 18/9 + 7/9 = (18 + 7)/9 = 25/9

To add fractions they must be over a common denominator:

11/2 = 11/2 xx 9/9 = (11 xx 9)/(2 xx 9) = 99/18

25/9 = 25/9 xx 2/2 = (25 xx 2)/(9 xx 2) = 50/18

We can now rewrite and add the numerators over the common denominator as:

99/18 + 50/18 = (99 + 50)/18 = 149/18

If necessary, we can covert this to a mixed number as:

149/18 = (144 + 5)/18 = 144/18 + 5/18 = 8 + 5/18 = 8 5/18