Solving Fractional Pizza Eaten by Ricky and Sam

Imagine a scenario where Ricky and Sam are sharing a pizza. Ricky eats 1/5 of the pizza, and Sam eats 2/4 of the pizza. It can be an interesting challenge to figure out how much pizza is left. Let's dive into the solution using several methods to demonstrate the concept and improve SEO for Google's algorithm.

Method 1: Subtracting Fractions

To find out how much pizza is left, we need to determine the total amount of pizza eaten by both Ricky and Sam and then subtract it from the whole pizza.

Step 1: Find a Common Denominator

Ricky ate 1/5 of the pizza, and Sam ate 2/4 of the pizza. First, we need to find a common denominator to subtract these fractions. The least common multiple (LCM) of 5 and 4 is 20.

Step 2: Convert the Fractions

Convert 1/5 to an equivalent fraction with a denominator of 20:

1/5 (1 * 4) / (5 * 4) 4/20

Convert 2/4 to an equivalent fraction with a denominator of 20:

2/4 (2 * 5) / (4 * 5) 10/20

Step 3: Subtract the Fractions

Now, we subtract the fractions:

1 - (4/20 10/20) 1 - (14/20)

1 can be written as 20/20, so the equation becomes:

20/20 - 14/20 (20 - 14) / 20 6/20

Step 4: Simplify the Fraction

Simplify 6/20 to its lowest terms:

6/20 3/10

Therefore, 3/10 of the pizza is left.

Note: Alternatively, you can also solve this problem by simply subtracting the fractions directly:

1 - 1/3 - 2/5

Step 1: Find a Common Denominator

The LCM of 3 and 5 is 15.

Step 2: Convert the Fractions

1 15/15

1/3 (1 * 5) / (3 * 5) 5/15

2/5 (2 * 3) / (5 * 3) 6/15

Step 3: Subtract the Fractions

15/15 - 5/15 - 6/15 (15 - 5 - 6) / 15 4/15

Therefore, 4/15 of the pizza is left. Both methods provide the correct answer of 3/10 or 4/15.

Additional Examples

Example 1: 1/6 of a Birthday Cake

Suppose there is a whole birthday cake. If you eat 1/6 of it and your friend eats 2/3 of the same cake, let's find out how much cake is left.

Step 1: Convert 2/3 to a Fraction with Denominator of 6

2/3 (2 * 2) / (3 * 2) 4/6

Step 2: Subtract the Fractions

1 - (1/6 4/6) 1 - 5/6 6/6 - 5/6 1/6

Therefore, 1/6 of the cake is left.

Conclusion

Understanding how to subtract fractions is a valuable skill in many real-life scenarios, such as sharing food or solving mathematical problems. By using the methods described, you can determine the exact amount of pizza or cake left after someone has eaten a portion. Whether it's a fun pizza challenge or a real-life situation, knowing how to handle fractions can help you solve these problems accurately and efficiently.

Keywords: fractional pizza, pizza math, fraction subtraction