# Thread: Going insane!

1. ## Going insane!

Hi All,
I have recently decided to go back to college and needless to say my math is absolutely horrible. I have a fairly decent understanding of everything up to basic equations but I am stumped at this problem im currently trying to solve for practice. Id appreciate help with an explanation of hows its solved. I already know the answer but I want to work it to become fluent.

Problem is:

3 1/6 + (2 1/3 divided by 3.6)^3

I worked everything out and converted fractions to decimals. Id greatly appreciate any help possible! I want to learn math correctly this time around. I am trying to be disciplined and know why and how I come to an answer instead of just coming to it .

2. Originally Posted by Forscythe87
Hi All,
I have recently decided to go back to college and needless to say my math is absolutely horrible. I have a fairly decent understanding of everything up to basic equations but I am stumped at this problem im currently trying to solve for practice. Id appreciate help with an explanation of hows its solved. I already know the answer but I want to work it to become fluent.

Problem is:

3 1/6 + (2 1/3 divided by 3.6)^3

I worked everything out and converted fractions to decimals. Id greatly appreciate any help possible! I want to learn math correctly this time around. I am trying to be disciplined and know why and how I come to an answer instead of just coming to it .
Dear Forscythe87,

I need a bit of clarification about the expression. Is it, $3\frac{1}{6}+\left(2\frac{1}{3}\div{3.6}\right)^3$ ??

3. I hope this is correct (I am unsure whether you mean $3*\frac{1}{6}$ or $\frac{19}{6}$

Here are my workings:
$\frac{19}{6}+(\frac{7}{3}*\frac{1}{3.6})^3 \longrightarrow \frac{19}{6}+(\frac{7}{3*3.6})^3\longrightarrow \frac{19}{6}+0.27=3.44$

All decimals are to 2 decimal places.

4. Originally Posted by Sudharaka
Dear Forscythe87,

I need a bit of clarification about the expression. Is it, $3\frac{1}{6}+\left(2\frac{1}{3}\div{3.6}\right)^3$ ??
Yes thats correct. The exponent applies to both the 2 1/3 and 3.6 right?

5. Originally Posted by Forscythe87
Yes thats correct. The exponent applies to both the 2 1/3 and 3.6 right?
Dear Forscythe87,

First you need to convert the improper fractions into proper fractions.

$3\frac{1}{6}+\left(2\frac{1}{3}\div{3.6}\right)^3$

$=\frac{19}{6}+\left(\frac{7}{3}\div{\frac{36}{10}} \right)^3$

$=\frac{19}{6}+\left(\frac{7}{3}\times{\frac{10}{36 }}\right)^3$

$=\frac{19}{6}+\left(\frac{35}{54}\right)^3$

$=3.167+0.648^3$

$=3.167+0.272$

$=3.439$

6. Originally Posted by Forscythe87
3 1/6 + (2 1/3 divided by 3.6)^3
Are you SURE that's properly posted? Do you have the answer?

7. Originally Posted by Wilmer
Are you SURE that's properly posted? Do you have the answer?
Im starting to think my answer worksheet is wrong. The answer according to the answer key I have is 3 3389/7986.

8. Originally Posted by Forscythe87
Im starting to think my answer worksheet is wrong. The answer according to the answer key I have is 3 3389/7986.
Dear Forscythe87,

Your answer in the worksheet is incorrect.

$3\frac{3389}{7986}=3.42436.....$

Whereas the correct answer is,

$\frac{19}{6}+\left(\frac{35}{54}\right)^3=3.43895. ...$

9. Originally Posted by Forscythe87
Hi All,
I have recently decided to go back to college and needless to say my math is absolutely horrible. I have a fairly decent understanding of everything up to basic equations but I am stumped at this problem im currently trying to solve for practice. Id appreciate help with an explanation of hows its solved. I already know the answer but I want to work it to become fluent.

Problem is:

3 1/6 + (2 1/3 divided by 3.6)^3

I worked everything out and converted fractions to decimals. Id greatly appreciate any help possible! I want to learn math correctly this time around. I am trying to be disciplined and know why and how I come to an answer instead of just coming to it .
If indeed the given answer is

$3 + \frac{3389}{7986} = \frac{27347}{7986}$

then the bracket has the value $\frac7{11}$

This is only possible if the number 3.6 in the bracket was originally $\frac{11}3$.

I don't know if you transformed the fraction $\frac{11}3$ into 3.6 - then you have made the assumption that an approximate value equals the fraction - or if the 3.6 was given in the first place. If so the authors of the book had made a mistake.

10. Originally Posted by earboth
If indeed the given answer is

${\color{red}3 + \frac{3389}{7986} = \frac{27347}{7986}}$

then the bracket has the value $\frac7{11}$

This is only possible if the number 3.6 in the bracket was originally $\frac{11}3$.

I don't know if you transformed the fraction $\frac{11}3$ into 3.6 - then you have made the assumption that an approximate value equals the fraction - or if the 3.6 was given in the first place. If so the authors of the book had made a mistake.
Dear earboth,

Not that it really matters, just in case to avoid confusion, the highlighted part should be, $3\frac{3389}{7986} = \frac{27347}{7986}$

11. Thanks for the help everyone. Cant believe the worksheet answer key is wrong and led me to more frustration than necessary. I had the right answer and the incorrect key just clogged my mind up now. I knew I was doing something right.

The worksheet I used is here: http://www.math-drills.com/orderofop...cimals_002.pdf (bottom right)

Anyone have any suggestion for better practice?