A loaf of bread was cut into 10 equal slices. Jordan, Megan, Eli, Chris, and Kevin ate one slice each. What fraction of the loaf of bread did they eat?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the fraction of a loaf of bread that was consumed by five people who each ate one slice from a total of ten equal slices.
Answer
The fraction of the loaf of bread that they ate is $\frac{1}{2}$.
Answer for screen readers
The fraction of the loaf of bread that they ate is $\frac{1}{2}$.
Steps to Solve
- Determine the total number of slices eaten
Each of the five people ate one slice of bread. Therefore, the total number of slices eaten is:
$$ 5 \text{ slices} = 5 \times 1 \text{ slice/person} $$
- Calculate the fraction of the loaf eaten
The loaf of bread was cut into 10 equal slices. The fraction of the loaf consumed can be calculated as:
$$ \text{Fraction eaten} = \frac{\text{Total slices eaten}}{\text{Total slices in loaf}} = \frac{5}{10} $$
- Simplify the fraction
To simplify the fraction, divide both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor (5):
$$ \frac{5}{10} = \frac{5 \div 5}{10 \div 5} = \frac{1}{2} $$
The fraction of the loaf of bread that they ate is $\frac{1}{2}$.
More Information
Half of the loaf was consumed. If there are 10 equal slices in the loaf, and 5 slices were eaten, it logically follows that 5 slices remain.
Tips
- A common mistake is to miscount the number of people or slices eaten. Ensure you account for each person's slice correctly.
- Another mistake could be failing to simplify the fraction. Always check if your fraction can be reduced.
AI-generated content may contain errors. Please verify critical information
