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Numbers, units and arithmetic
Numbers, units and arithmetic

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3.14 Mixed numbers

In order to do arithmetic with mixed numbers like two and one divided by four, it is often best to write them as a simple fraction, that is, one number over another.

Multiplication or division involving mixed numbers is done by converting them to fractions first.

Example 24

  • (a) Write two and one divided by three as a simple fraction.

  • (b) one and one divided by two division three

To enter two and one divided by three on a calculator, you can input two plus one divided by three.

two and one divided by three is called a ‘mixed number’.

Answer

  • (a) two and one divided by three equals two plus one divided by three

    2 is the same as equation sequence part 1 two divided by one equals part 2 two multiplication three divided by one multiplication three equals part 3 six divided by three

    So equation sequence part 1 two and one divided by three equals part 2 six divided by three plus one divided by three equals part 3 seven divided by three

  • (b) one and one divided by two is equation sequence part 1 one plus one divided by two equals part 2 one divided by one plus one divided by two equals part 3 two divided by two plus one divided by two equals part 4 three divided by two so equation sequence part 1 one and one divided by two division three equals part 2 three divided by two division three divided by one equals part 3 three divided by two multiplication one divided by three equals part 4 three multiplication one divided by two multiplication three equals part 5 one divided by two

In multiplication or division involving mixed numbers like one and one divided by two, convert the mixed number to a (top heavy) fraction.