Rafi had a board that was 15 1/2 feet long. He cut three pieces off the board that are each 3 7/8 feet long. How much of the board is left?
I am confused on how to figure out the answer for the above.
How do I multiply 3 7/8 x 3?
I never multiplied with a whole number and a fraction?
One way to do it is to multiply 3 * 3 = 9
3 * (7/8) = 21/8 = 2 5/8
9 + 2 5/8 = 11 5/8
15 4/8 = 14 12/8
14 12/8 - 11 5/8 = 3 7/8 feet of board is left
So if the answer is 2 5/8 then would I have to take 15 1/2 and find the common denominator?
Would it then be
15 4/8-11 5/8?
But then I can't subtract 4-5