Question

ronald and sandra weighed their backpacks on a scale. ronalds backpack weighed 6 1/2 pounds and sandras backpack weighed 2 2/5 pounds. how much more did ronalds backpack weigh than sandras backpack?
write your answer as a fraction or as a whole or mixed number.
blank pounds
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Explanation:

Step1: Convert mixed numbers to improper fractions

Ronald's backpack weight: \( 6\frac{1}{2}=\frac{6\times2 + 1}{2}=\frac{13}{2} \) pounds.
Sandra's backpack weight: \( 2\frac{2}{5}=\frac{2\times5 + 2}{5}=\frac{12}{5} \) pounds.

Step2: Find a common denominator and subtract

Common denominator of 2 and 5 is 10.
\( \frac{13}{2}=\frac{13\times5}{2\times5}=\frac{65}{10} \), \( \frac{12}{5}=\frac{12\times2}{5\times2}=\frac{24}{10} \).
Subtract: \( \frac{65}{10}-\frac{24}{10}=\frac{41}{10} \).

Step3: Convert back to mixed number

\( \frac{41}{10}=4\frac{1}{10} \) pounds.

Answer:

\( 4\frac{1}{10} \)