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1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 =

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Walkabout
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1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 = [#permalink] New post   07 Dec 2012, 06:03
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\(\frac{1}{2} +\frac{\frac{2}{3} *\frac{3}{8}}{4} - \frac{9}{16}\).

(A) 29/16
(B) 19/16
(C) 15/16
(D) 9/13
(E) 0
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E
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Re: 1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 = [#permalink] New post   09 Jun 2016, 14:01
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Walkabout wrote:
1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 =

(A) 29/16
(B) 19/16
(C) 15/16
(D) 9/13
(E) 0


We need to simplify the expression using PEMDAS.

Parentheses
Exponents
Multiplication and Division
Addition and Subtraction

The calculation of an equation or expression must be carried out in the following order:

1) Operations within parentheses (or absolute value bars or radicals)
2) Exponents
3) Multiplication and division from left to right
4) Addition and subtraction from left to right



The answer is E.
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Re: 1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 = [#permalink] New post   07 Dec 2012, 06:08
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Walkabout wrote:
1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 =

(A) 29/16
(B) 19/16
(C) 15/16
(D) 9/13
(E) 0


\(\frac{1}{2} +\frac{\frac{2}{3} *\frac{3}{8}}{4} - \frac{9}{16} =\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{16}-\frac{9}{16}=\frac{8}{16}+\frac{1}{16}-\frac{9}{16}=0\).

Answer: E.
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Re: 1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 = [#permalink] New post   18 Dec 2012, 23:28
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I love it when you get 0 in the GMAT.

\(1/2 + (2/3)(3/8)(1/4) - 9/16 = 1/2 - 1/16 - 9/16 = 1/2 - 8/16 = 1/2-1/2=0\)

Answer: E
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Re: 1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 = [#permalink] New post   21 Sep 2017, 23:29
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Shiv2016 wrote:
Bunuel what difference does it make if we do not follow PEMDAS rule for addition?

For example:
1/2+1/16-9/16
= 1/2-8/16
=0


Or

1/2+1/16-9/16
= (8+1-9)/16
=Still 0


Neither of those violates any rule and both are correct:

\(\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{16}-\frac{9}{16}\)

You can treat it as \((\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{16})-\frac{9}{16}\) or \(\frac{1}{2}+(\frac{1}{16}-\frac{9}{16})\) or \((\frac{1}{2}-\frac{9}{16})+\frac{1}{16}\). This is because of commutative law, which says that any finite sum (or product) is unaltered by reordering its terms or factors. Simply put a + b = b + a and ab = ba.

Of course yo can simply transform all fractions having the same common denominator and proceed: \(\frac{8+1-9}{16}\).

Check for more HERE.

Hope it helps.
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Re: 1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 = [#permalink] New post   21 Sep 2017, 22:46
Bunuel what difference does it make if we do not follow PEMDAS rule for addition?

For example:
1/2+1/16-9/16
= 1/2-8/16
=0


Or

1/2+1/16-9/16
= (8+1-9)/16
=Still 0
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Re: 1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 = [#permalink] New post   23 Aug 2018, 00:55
Hi guys

Can someone please show how they got the 1/16 part, I'm still getting the wrong answer trying to work this out.


1/2+1/16−9/16
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Re: 1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 = [#permalink] New post   26 Aug 2018, 18:02
Can someone help me understand why [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] doesn't equal 1? I multiplied the fractions in the numerator, and then multiplied them by the reciprocal of 1/4. Clearly that is incorrect, but I thought that was how dividing fractions worked.
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Re: 1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 = [#permalink] New post   19 Sep 2023, 07:52
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Re: 1/2 + [(2/3 * 3/8)/4] - 9/16 = [#permalink]
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