in a track meet four athletes scored 1 1/2, 8 3/4, 5 1/8 and 1 1/4 points for their team. what is the total number points they scored?

To find the total number of points scored by the four athletes, you need to add their individual scores.

Let's break down their scores:

Athlete 1: 1 1/2
To add a whole number and a fraction, convert the whole number to a fraction with the same denominator as the fraction. In this case, the whole number 1 can be converted to 2/2.

So, 1 1/2 = 2/2 + 1/2 = 3/2.

Athlete 2: 8 3/4

Athlete 3: 5 1/8

Athlete 4: 1 1/4

Now, let's add their scores:

3/2 + 8 3/4 + 5 1/8 + 1 1/4

To add mixed numbers and fractions, convert the mixed numbers to improper fractions.

8 3/4 = (8 * 4 + 3) / 4 = 35/4
5 1/8 = (5 * 8 + 1) / 8 = 41/8
1 1/4 = (1 * 4 + 1) / 4 = 5/4

Now we have:

3/2 + 35/4 + 41/8 + 5/4

To add fractions, we need a common denominator. In this case, the common denominator is 8.

3/2 = 12/8 (multiplied numerator and denominator by 4)
35/4 = 70/8 (multiplied numerator and denominator by 2)

Now we can add:
12/8 + 70/8 + 41/8 + 5/4 = 128/8

To simplify the fraction, divide the numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD). The GCD of 128 and 8 is 8.

128/8 = 16

Therefore, the total number of points scored by the four athletes is 16.

Again, convert the fraction part of the question to a decimal and add them all together.