It depends, well, 5.. but there’s another way if you want to get a fraction. 2 1/3 + 1 1/2 + 2/3 + 1/2 = 5
But, if you use pemdas and kind of switch the problem up a bit,
Conversion a mixed number 2 1/
2
to a improper fraction: 2 1/2 = 2 1/
2
= 2 · 2 + 1/
2
= 4 + 1/
2
= 5/
2
To find a new numerator:
a) Multiply the whole number 2 by the denominator 2. Whole number 2 equally 2 * 2/
2
= 4/
2
b) Add the answer from previous step 4 to the numerator 1. New numerator is 4 + 1 = 5
c) Write a previous answer (new numerator 5) over the denominator 2.
Two and one half is five halfs
Conversion a mixed number 1 1/
3
to a improper fraction: 1 1/3 = 1 1/
3
= 1 · 3 + 1/
3
= 3 + 1/
3
= 4/
3
To find a new numerator:
a) Multiply the whole number 1 by the denominator 3. Whole number 1 equally 1 * 3/
3
= 3/
3
b) Add the answer from previous step 3 to the numerator 1. New numerator is 3 + 1 = 4
c) Write a previous answer (new numerator 4) over the denominator 3.
One and one third is four thirds
Subtract: 5/
2
- 4/
3
= 5 · 3/
2 · 3
- 4 · 2/
3 · 2
= 15/
6
- 8/
6
= 15 - 8/
6
= 7/
6
For adding, subtracting, and comparing fractions, it is suitable to adjust both fractions to a common (equal, identical) denominator. The common denominator you can calculate as the least common multiple of both denominators - LCM(2, 3) = 6. In practice, it is enough to find the common denominator (not necessarily the lowest) by multiplying the denominators: 2 × 3 = 6. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words - five halfs minus four thirds = seven sixths.
