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How do I solve 5/8 + 4½ + ¾ ?

Because this question involves more than 2 numbers, we’ll need to use PEMDAS, or the order of operations. The good news here is that this is all addition.

You could solve this by hand… or you can use your calculator. I’m going to show you how to use your calculator first:

  1. Type in 5.
  2. Divide by 8.
  3. This will give you the decimal equivalent of ⅝. 
  4. Now, add 4.5 (the decimal equivalent of  4½)
  5. Now add, 0.75 (the decimal equivalent of 3/4)
  6. This gives you the decimal answer of 5.875
  7. If you were taking the TEAS, you would need to answer as a fraction. Therefore, you could divide out all the answer options (A, B, C, and D)  to see which is equivalent to 5.875. The answer is 5⅞. When you type in 7 divided by 8 into your calculator, you get 0.875. Then add the 5 = 5.875

To solve by hand,

  1. Take the first two fractions: ⅝ + 4½
  2. Change 4½ to a mixed fraction: 9/2 
  3. To add ⅝ + and 9/2, you’ll need to create a common denominator. In this case, 8. So multiply the second fraction by 4: 9 x 4 = 36. Therefore, the new fraction is 36 / 8.
  4. Add the numerators: 5 + 36 = 41
  5. Your denominator stays the same, so your new fraction is 41 / 8
  6. Now add your third fraction, ¾ . Again, you’ll need a common denominator of 8, so change this fraction to 6/8.
  7. Your new equation is 41/8 + 6/8
  8. Add your numerators: 41 + 6 = 47
  9. Your denominator stays the same, so the new fraction is 47/8
  10. 47/ 8 is a really hard fraction to reduce! On the TEAS, to save time, I would divide 47 by 8 = 5.875. Divide out every answer option to find the fraction that is equivalent to 5.875.

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