The hiking trail is #7 1/3# miles long. There are #6# markers posted evenly along the trail to direct hikers. How far apart are the markers placed?

1 Answer
Dec 20, 2017

#1 1/3# miles apart.

Explanation:

The trail is #7 1/3# miles long, and there are #6# markers on the trail.

In order to solve this, you have to divide #7 1/3# by #6#. To do this, you must first change #7 1/3# into an improper fraction of #22/3#. You find this by multiplying the whole number, #7#, by the denominator, #3#, and then adding the numerator, #1#.

After you change the fraction, you take #22/3# and divide it by #6#.

#22/3 div 6#

To do this, you must first change #6# into a fraction. You can change any whole number into a fraction by putting it over #1#, in this case, like this: #6/1#.

When dividing fractions, you must always flip the second number, so the problem would be

#22/3xx1/6#.

This gives you #22/18# because you simply multiply across the top and across the bottom.

Now, you take it down to simplest form and get #1 6/18# and then to #1 1/3#.