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first time poster here, so please be kind. :)

I am working on an issue that I can't see past. I've got a worksheet with a multiple choice set of answers, but i KNOW they are all wrong! But maybe I am missing something?

It's a simple fraction to attempt to simplify the expression.

3/4 + 1/8 x 1/5

By my calculations, I am figuring the answer to be 31/40, first by finding 1/8 x 1/5 = 1/40, then adding 3/4 (30/40), which gives me 31/40!

However, none of the multiple choices have that as an answer?

15/32, 30/7, 3/160, 6/5
JamesOverby
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    I think your answer is correct, for the reasons you said. What are the choices you have? – MJD Jan 04 '14 at 01:51
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    Yeah, it looks right to me. Tell us the multiple-choice options. – Newb Jan 04 '14 at 01:51
  • 15/32, 30/7, 3/160, 6/5

    Thank you for getting back so quickly! None of these make sense to me except for 3/160, BUT that is only if we multiply ALL of them. :)

     – JamesOverby Jan 04 '14 at 01:52

1 Answers1

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Your analysis is correct. By the order of ops, + occurs last. × and / are parsed from left to right.

$$1/5×1/8 = (1/5)/8 = 1/40.$$

MJD
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ncmathsadist
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