two strips of fabric measure 14 3/4 and 20 7/8 in in length. To form one length, the strips are sewn together using 3/8 in from ea strip to make the seam. What is the final length of the fabric after the two strips are sewn together?

14 6/8 + 20 7/8 - 6/8 = ?

7/8

To find the final length of the fabric after the two strips are sewn together, we need to add the lengths of the two strips and subtract the amount used for the seam.

First, let's convert the mixed numbers to improper fractions for easier calculation:

14 3/4 can be converted to an improper fraction as (4 × 14 + 3)/4 = 59/4.
20 7/8 can be converted to an improper fraction as (8 × 20 + 7)/8 = 167/8.

Next, we add the two fractions together:

59/4 + 167/8

To add these fractions, we need a common denominator, which in this case is 8. So we convert 59/4 to have a denominator of 8:

(59 × 2)/8 + 167/8 = 118/8 + 167/8 = 285/8

Now, since our fractions have the same denominator, we can simply add the numerators:

285/8 + 167/8 = (285 + 167)/8 = 452/8

Finally, we divide the numerator by the denominator to get the final length in inches:

452 ÷ 8 = 56.5

Therefore, the final length of the fabric after sewing the two strips together is 56.5 inches.