Mr. Hoover measured two pieces of elastic for a science experiment. The indigo piece of elastic was 18 1/8 inches long and the teal piece of elastic was 11 inches long. How much longer was the indigo piece? Write your answer as a fraction or as a whole or mixed number. _____ inches

Question

Mr. Hoover measured two pieces of elastic for a science experiment. The indigo piece of elastic was 18 1/8 inches long and the teal piece of elastic was 11 inches long. How much longer was the indigo piece?  Write your answer as a fraction or as a whole or mixed number.  _____ inches

Bytelearn · Accepted Answer

Convert to Improper Fraction:  Convert the mixed number to an improper fraction for easier calculation. 18 1/8 inches becomes $ \frac{145}{8} $ inches (since 18 * 8 + 1 = 145). Subtract Lengths:  Subtract the length of the teal piece from the indigo piece. $ \frac{145}{8} $ inches - 11 inches. Convert 11 inches to $ \frac{88}{8} $ inches to match the denominators. Perform Subtraction:  Perform the subtraction: $ \frac{145}{8} - \frac{88}{8} = \frac{57}{8} $ inches. Convert Back to Mixed Number:  Convert $ \frac{57}{8} $ inches back to a mixed number for easier understanding. $ \frac{57}{8} $ inches is 7 1/8 inches.

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