Working with Fractions | FIO

Question 25

What is 1121 - \frac{1}{2}?

(112)×(113)\left(1 - \frac{1}{2}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{3}\right)?

(112)×(113)×(114)×(115)\left(1 - \frac{1}{2}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{3}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{4}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{5}\right)?

(112)×(113)×(114)×(115)×(116)×(117)×(118)×(119)×(1110)\left(1 - \frac{1}{2}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{3}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{4}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{5}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{6}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{7}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{8}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{9}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{10}\right)?

Make a general statement and explain.

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Solution

We will simplify each fraction and then multiply them, looking for a pattern in the results.

Step 1 — Calculate the first expression

We need to subtract the fraction from 1. We write 1 as a fraction with the same denominator.

1121 - \frac{1}{2}

=2212= \frac{2}{2} - \frac{1}{2}

=12= \frac{1}{2}

12\boxed{\frac{1}{2}}

Step 2 — Calculate the second expression

First, we simplify each part in the brackets. Then, we multiply the simplified fractions.

(112)×(113)\left(1 - \frac{1}{2}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{3}\right)

=(2212)×(3313)= \left(\frac{2}{2} - \frac{1}{2}\right) \times \left(\frac{3}{3} - \frac{1}{3}\right)

=12×23= \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{2}{3}

We multiply the numerators and the denominators.

=1×22×3= \frac{1 \times 2}{2 \times 3}

=26= \frac{2}{6}

We simplify this fraction by dividing the top and bottom by 2.

=13= \frac{1}{3}

13\boxed{\frac{1}{3}}

Step 3 — Calculate the third expression

We simplify each fraction in the product first. Then we look for numbers that cancel out.

(112)×(113)×(114)×(115)\left(1 - \frac{1}{2}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{3}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{4}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{5}\right)

=12×23×34×45= \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{2}{3} \times \frac{3}{4} \times \frac{4}{5}

We can cancel numbers from the top and bottom. The 2 in the first denominator cancels the 2 in the second numerator. The 3 in the second denominator cancels the 3 in the third numerator. The 4 in the third denominator cancels the 4 in the fourth numerator.

=12×23×34×45= \frac{1}{\cancel{2}} \times \frac{\cancel{2}}{\cancel{3}} \times \frac{\cancel{3}}{\cancel{4}} \times \frac{\cancel{4}}{5}

Only the first numerator and the last denominator remain.

=15= \frac{1}{5}

15\boxed{\frac{1}{5}}

Step 4 — Calculate the fourth expression

We see a pattern from the previous steps. Each term (11n)(1 - \frac{1}{n}) becomes n1n\frac{n-1}{n}. Many numbers will cancel out.

(112)×(113)×(114)×(115)×(116)×(117)×(118)×(119)×(1110)\left(1 - \frac{1}{2}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{3}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{4}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{5}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{6}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{7}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{8}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{9}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{10}\right)

We write each term as a single fraction.

=12×23×34×45×56×67×78×89×910= \frac{1}{2} \times \frac{2}{3} \times \frac{3}{4} \times \frac{4}{5} \times \frac{5}{6} \times \frac{6}{7} \times \frac{7}{8} \times \frac{8}{9} \times \frac{9}{10}

We cancel numbers from the top and bottom. The numerator of each fraction cancels the denominator of the previous fraction.

=12×23×34×45×56×67×78×89×910= \frac{1}{\cancel{2}} \times \frac{\cancel{2}}{\cancel{3}} \times \frac{\cancel{3}}{\cancel{4}} \times \frac{\cancel{4}}{\cancel{5}} \times \frac{\cancel{5}}{\cancel{6}} \times \frac{\cancel{6}}{\cancel{7}} \times \frac{\cancel{7}}{\cancel{8}} \times \frac{\cancel{8}}{\cancel{9}} \times \frac{\cancel{9}}{10}

Only the first numerator and the last denominator remain.

=110= \frac{1}{10}

110\boxed{\frac{1}{10}}

Step 5 — Discovering the General Pattern

We have seen a pattern in our answers. The result is always 1 divided by the last denominator. Let us try to understand why this happens. Each term in the product is (11k)(1 - \frac{1}{k}). We can write this as a single fraction.

11k=kk1k=k1k1 - \frac{1}{k} = \frac{k}{k} - \frac{1}{k} = \frac{k-1}{k}

So, a product like (112)×(113)××(11n)\left(1 - \frac{1}{2}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{3}\right) \times \dots \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{n}\right) becomes:

12×23×34××n1n\frac{1}{2} \times \frac{2}{3} \times \frac{3}{4} \times \dots \times \frac{n-1}{n}

We notice a special type of cancellation. The numerator of each fraction cancels. It cancels with the denominator of the next fraction. For example, the 2 in the denominator of 12\frac{1}{2} cancels. It cancels with the 2 in the numerator of 23\frac{2}{3}. This cancellation continues throughout the product. Only the numerator of the first fraction remains. This is 1. Only the denominator of the last fraction remains. This is n. So, the product simplifies to 1n\frac{1}{n}.

Answer

(i) 12\frac{1}{2} (ii) 13\frac{1}{3} (iii) 15\frac{1}{5} (iv) 110\frac{1}{10} (v) The general statement is that the product (112)×(113)××(11n)\left(1 - \frac{1}{2}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{3}\right) \times \dots \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{n}\right) equals 1n\frac{1}{n}.

More questions in FIO

Q1

Tenzin drinks 12\frac{1}{2} glass of milk every day. How many glasses of milk does he drink in a week? How many glasses of milk did he drink in the month of January?

Q2

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Q3

Manju and two of her neighbours buy 5 litres of oil every week and share it equally among the 3 families. How much oil does each family get in a week? How much oil will one family get in 4 weeks?

Q4

Safia saw the Moon setting on Monday at 10 pm. Her mother, who is a scientist, told her that every day the Moon sets 56\frac{5}{6} hour later than the previous day. How many hours after 10 pm will the moon set on Thursday?

Q5

Multiply and then convert it into a mixed fraction:

(a) 7×357 \times \frac{3}{5}

(b) 4×134 \times \frac{1}{3}

(c) 97×6\frac{9}{7} \times 6

(d) 1311×6\frac{13}{11} \times 6

Q6

Find the following products. Use a unit square as a whole for representing the fractions:

(a) 13×15\frac{1}{3} \times \frac{1}{5}

(b) 14×13\frac{1}{4} \times \frac{1}{3}

(c) 15×12\frac{1}{5} \times \frac{1}{2}

(d) 16×15\frac{1}{6} \times \frac{1}{5}

Now, find 112×118\frac{1}{12} \times \frac{1}{18}.

Q7

Find the following products. Use a unit square as a whole for representing the fractions and carrying out the operations.

(a) 23×45\frac{2}{3} \times \frac{4}{5}

(b) 14×23\frac{1}{4} \times \frac{2}{3}

(c) 35×12\frac{3}{5} \times \frac{1}{2}

(d) 46×35\frac{4}{6} \times \frac{3}{5}

Q8

A water tank is filled from a tap. If the tap is open for 1 hour, 710\frac{7}{10} of the tank gets filled. How much of the tank is filled if the tap is open for

(a) 13\frac{1}{3} hour

(b) 23\frac{2}{3} hour

(c) 34\frac{3}{4} hour

(d) 710\frac{7}{10} hour

(e) For the tank to be full, how long should the tap be running?

Q9

The government has taken 16\frac{1}{6} of Somu's land to build a road. What part of the land remains with Somu now? She gives half of the remaining part of the land to her daughter Krishna and 13\frac{1}{3} of it to her son Bora. After giving them their shares, she keeps the remaining land for herself.

(a) What part of the original land did Krishna get?

(b) What part of the original land did Bora get?

(c) What part of the original land did Somu keep for herself?

Q10

Find the area of a rectangle of sides 334 ft3\frac{3}{4}\text{ ft} and 935 ft9\frac{3}{5}\text{ ft}.

Q11

Tsewang plants four saplings in a row in his garden. The distance between two saplings is 34 m\frac{3}{4}\text{ m}. Find the distance between the first and last sapling. [Hint: Draw a rough diagram with four saplings with distance between two saplings as 34 m\frac{3}{4}\text{ m}]

Q12

Which is heavier: 1215\frac{12}{15} of 500 grams or 320\frac{3}{20} of 4 kg?

Q13

What can you conclude about the relationship between the numbers multiplied and the product? Fill in the blanks:

  • When one of the numbers being multiplied is between 0 and 1, the product is ________ (greater/less) than the other number.
  • When one of the numbers being multiplied is greater than 1, the product is ________ (greater/less) than the other number.
Q14

Evaluate the following:

(a) 3÷793 \div \frac{7}{9}

(b) 144÷2\frac{14}{4} \div 2

(c) 23÷23\frac{2}{3} \div \frac{2}{3}

(d) 146÷73\frac{14}{6} \div \frac{7}{3}

(e) 43÷34\frac{4}{3} \div \frac{3}{4}

(f) 74÷17\frac{7}{4} \div \frac{1}{7}

(g) 82÷415\frac{8}{2} \div \frac{4}{15}

(h) 15÷19\frac{1}{5} \div \frac{1}{9}

(i) 16÷1112\frac{1}{6} \div \frac{11}{12}

(j) 323÷1383\frac{2}{3} \div 1\frac{3}{8}

Q15

For each of the questions below, choose the expression that describes the solution. Then simplify it.

(a) Maria bought 8 m8\text{ m} of lace to decorate the bags she made for school. She used 14 m\frac{1}{4}\text{ m} for each bag and finished the lace. How many bags did she decorate?

(i) 8×148 \times \frac{1}{4}

(ii) 18×14\frac{1}{8} \times \frac{1}{4}

(iii) 8÷148 \div \frac{1}{4}

(iv) 14÷8\frac{1}{4} \div 8

(b) 12\frac{1}{2} meter of ribbon is used to make 8 badges. What is the length of the ribbon used for each badge?

(i) 8×128 \times \frac{1}{2}

(ii) 1218\frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{1}{8}

(iii) 8÷128 \div \frac{1}{2}

(iv) 12÷8\frac{1}{2} \div 8

(c) A baker needs 16 kg\frac{1}{6}\text{ kg} of flour to make one loaf of bread. He has 5 kg5\text{ kg} of flour. How many loaves of bread can he make?

(i) 5×165 \times \frac{1}{6}

(ii) 16÷5\frac{1}{6} \div 5

(iii) 5÷165 \div \frac{1}{6}

(iv) 5×65 \times 6

Q16

If 14\frac{1}{4} kg of flour is used to make 12 rotis, how much flour is used to make 6 rotis?

Q17

Pāṭīgaṇita, a book written by Sridharacharya in the 9th century CE, mentions this problem: "Friend, after thinking, what sum will be obtained by adding together 1÷161 \div \frac{1}{6}, 1÷1101 \div \frac{1}{10}, 1÷1131 \div \frac{1}{13}, 1÷191 \div \frac{1}{9}, and 1÷121 \div \frac{1}{2}". What should the friend say?

Q18

Mira is reading a novel that has 400 pages. She read 15\frac{1}{5} of the pages yesterday and 310\frac{3}{10} of the pages today. How many more pages does she need to read to finish the novel?

Q19

A car runs 16 km using 1 litre of petrol. How far will it go using 2342 \frac{3}{4} litres of petrol?

Q20

Amritpal decides on a destination for his vacation. If he takes a train, it will take him 5165 \frac{1}{6} hours to get there. If he takes a plane, it will take him 12\frac{1}{2} hour. How many hours does the plane save?

Q21

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Q22

Choose the option(s) describing the product of (565465×707676)\left(\frac{565}{465} \times \frac{707}{676}\right):

(a) >565465> \frac{565}{465}

(b) <565465< \frac{565}{465}

(c) >707676> \frac{707}{676}

(d) <707676< \frac{707}{676}

(e) >1> 1

(f) <1< 1

Q23

What fraction of the whole square is shaded?

Q24

A colony of ants set out in search of food. As they search, they keep splitting equally at each point (as shown in the Fig. 8.7) and reach two food sources, one near a mango tree and another near a sugarcane field. What fraction of the original group reached each food source?

Q25

What is 1121 - \frac{1}{2}?

(112)×(113)\left(1 - \frac{1}{2}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{3}\right)?

(112)×(113)×(114)×(115)\left(1 - \frac{1}{2}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{3}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{4}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{5}\right)?

(112)×(113)×(114)×(115)×(116)×(117)×(118)×(119)×(1110)\left(1 - \frac{1}{2}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{3}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{4}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{5}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{6}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{7}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{8}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{9}\right) \times \left(1 - \frac{1}{10}\right)?

Make a general statement and explain.

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