Jason measured rainfall for a science project. Last week it rained 3 1/8 inches in all. This week it rained 1 7/8 inches in one day and 2 3/4 inches on another. How many more inches did it rain this week then last week? Please explain how you got your anwser
What is 1 7/8 + 2 3/4 - 3 1/8 ?
1 7/8 + 2 6/8 - 3 1/8 = ?
To find out how many more inches it rained this week than last week, we need to calculate the total rainfall for each week and then compare the results.
Last week's rainfall: 3 1/8 inches
This week's rainfall: 1 7/8 inches + 2 3/4 inches
To add fractions with unlike denominators, we need to find a common denominator. In this case, the common denominator is 8.
Converting the fractions to have a denominator of 8:
3 1/8 inches = 3 * 8/8 + 1/8 = 24/8 + 1/8 = 25/8 inches
1 7/8 inches = 1 * 8/8 + 7/8 = 8/8 + 7/8 = 15/8 inches
2 3/4 inches = 2 * 8/8 + 3/4 = 16/8 + 3/4 = 19/8 inches
Now, we can add the fractions:
1 7/8 inches + 2 3/4 inches = 15/8 inches + 19/8 inches = 34/8 inches
Simplifying the fraction:
34/8 inches = 4 2/8 inches = 4 1/4 inches
Now, to find the difference in rainfall between the two weeks, we subtract last week's rainfall from this week's rainfall:
This week's rainfall - Last week's rainfall = 4 1/4 inches - 3 1/8 inches
To subtract fractions with unlike denominators, we also need to find a common denominator. In this case, the common denominator is 8.
Converting the fractions to have a denominator of 8:
4 1/4 inches = 4 * 8/8 + 1/4 = 32/8 + 1/4 = 33/8 inches
3 1/8 inches = 3 * 8/8 + 1/8 = 24/8 + 1/8 = 25/8 inches
Now, we can subtract the fractions:
4 1/4 inches - 3 1/8 inches = 33/8 inches - 25/8 inches = 8/8 inches
Simplifying the fraction:
8/8 inches = 1 inch
Therefore, it rained 1 inch more this week than last week.