My son has to solve equations with mixed numbers in them. we are in dispute about the problem below:

6 3/8 = t - 4 3/4 - 2 1/16

I solved it by adding 2 1/16 to both sides, then adding 4 3/4 to both sides. My answer was 13.

My son solved it by subtracting he mixed numbers on the right side first. Then he added that difference to 6 3/8. His answer was 9 1/16.

Can you tell us Which of us is following the correct procedure?

Thank you very much.

Either way is right, but it looks like you're both wrong

6 3/8 + 2 1/16 = 8 7/16
8 7/16 + 4 3/4 = 13 3/16

He should have added the mixed numbers on the right, then subtracted the sum:

4 3/4 + 2 1/16 = 6 13/16
So,
6 3/8 = t - 6 13/16
6 3/8 + 6 13/16 = 13 3/16

Guess you'd better both brush up on your fractions, eh?

What is the rational number between 1/3 and 5/6

To solve the equation 6 3/8 = t - 4 3/4 - 2 1/16, both of you have taken slightly different approaches. Let's analyze both methods to determine the correct procedure.

Your method:
You added 2 1/16 to both sides of the equation first and then added 4 3/4 to both sides. Your answer was 13.

Your son's method:
He subtracted the mixed numbers on the right side first and then added that difference to 6 3/8. His answer was 9 1/16.

To determine who followed the correct procedure, let's compare the results.

By adding 2 1/16 and then 4 3/4 to both sides, you obtained the following equation:

6 3/8 + 2 1/16 + 4 3/4 = t - 4 3/4 - 2 1/16 + 4 3/4 + 2 1/16

Simplifying the equation:

6 3/8 + 2 1/16 + 4 3/4 = t

Converting all of the mixed numbers to improper fractions:

51/8 + 33/16 + 19/4 = t

Finding a common denominator and performing the addition:

816/128 + 264/128 + 608/128 = t

1688/128 = t

After simplifying the fraction:

13 3/8 = t

Therefore, your method resulted in t = 13 3/8 as the solution.

Now let's examine your son's method:

He subtracted the mixed numbers on the right side of the equation first:

(4 3/4) - (2 1/16) = 3 11/16

Then he added the difference to 6 3/8:

6 3/8 + 3 11/16 = 9 1/16

Therefore, your son's method yielded t = 9 1/16 as the solution.

Comparing the two results, we can see that your son's solution matches with his method, while your solution does not match with your method. Therefore, your son's approach is correct, and the solution to the equation is t = 9 1/16.

It's important to note that both methods should yield the same solution when executed correctly. However, in this case, your son's method led to the correct answer, while there might have been an error in your calculations.