Before a race, you start #4 5/8# feet behind your friend. At the halfway point you are #3 2/3# feet ahead of your friend. What is the change in distance between you and your friend from the beginning of the race?

Question

3029 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2017-07-13T21:25:05

From #4 5/8# feet behind,to #3 2/3# feet ahead

is a change of # 8 7/8# feet

There are two parts to be considered:

A distance of #4 5/8# needs to be gained so that you are running next to your friend, then you pull away in front of him by a distance of #3 2/3#

Therefore, the change in distance is the sum of these distances:

#4 5/8 + 3 2/3#

#= 7 (color(white)(???????))/24" "larr# find the common denominator

#= 7 (15 +16)/24" "larr# find equivalent fractions

#= 7 31/24 = 7+ 1 7/8#

#= 8 7/8#

You could also regard the distance behind the friend as being negative and then subtract to find the difference:

#3 2/3 - (-4 5/8)#

#=3 2/3 + 4 5/8#

Which will produce the same result as shown above.