Adding 3 Fractions to Get 1

Directions: Using the digits 1 to 9, at most one time each, place a digit in each box to make a true statement.

Hint

What digits would be bad choices for the denominators?
What digits would be good choices for the denominators?

Answer

Answers found so far include:
2/8 + 1/4 + 3/6 = 1
2/4 + 3/9 + 1/6 = 1 (found by Koharu in Ms. Wilson’s class)

Source: Owen Kaplinsky

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Add Fractions with Decimal Sums

Directions: Using the digits 1 to 9 at most one time each, place a digit …

47 comments

  1. I there only one answer? 1/4+2/8+3/6

  2. Is there only one answer? 1/4+2/8+3/6

  3. My students also found 4/8 + 3/9 + 1/6

  4. Nice! I’ll add that to the answers.

  5. 1/3 + 1/3 + 1/3 =1

  6. 1/3 + 1/3 + 1/3

  7. 2/8 + 1/4 + 3/6 = 1

  8. Mikayla Malmquist

    2/8 + 1/4 + 3/6 = 1

  9. 1/4 + 2/8 + 3/6 = 1

  10. The answer is 3/6+14+28=1

  11. Hey Owen, this is nearly identical to the task I put up about 3 years ago, do you think we should take mine down or maybe collaborate? Your title is definitely better and I went all the way to 10 just because it provided a few more answers and touched on decimals. Also, I was inspired by the book The Wishing Club, which goes perfectly with these tasks.

    • This answer does not follow the rules with 1 digit in each box, but definitely answers the question. My student came up with 9/12 + 5/34 + 7/68

    • Oh! I didn’t realize that this is identical to yours! I think I should take mine down instead, because yours is the first one up. What do you think?

  12. This answer does not follow the rules with 1 digit in each box, but definitely answers the question. My student came up with 9/12 + 5/34 + 7/68

    • Gina, you should create that one and post it. It may already be on here already but by putting 1 box for numerator and 2 for each denominator you’ve created a pretty challenging task! I wonder if there is more than one answer?

    • Amazing!! How could you find the answer?? Just keep trial and errors??

  13. i got 1/4 + 2/8 + 3/6

  14. My answer is 1/4+4/8+4/16.

  15. 1/4+2/8+3/6

  16. 1/4+2/8+3/6

  17. 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 🙂

  18. 3/9, 2/4, 1/6

  19. 2/5 + 2/5 + 1/5 = 1

  20. Your friend who says I like your cut G way too much

    2/8+1/4+3/6?

  21. 1/2 + 2/8 + 1/4 = 1

  22. Nicolette Schlachter

    4/8 + 3/9 + 1/6

  23. My fifth-grade student, Yuel, came up with 3 possibilities:

    1/4 + 3/6 + 2/8 = 8/8

    1/6 + 2/4 + 3/9 = 6/6

    4/8 + 3/9 + 1/6 = 6/6

  24. I need 3 numbers that have 1 as a numerator and all different denominators! HELP!

  25. 1/6 + 4/8 + 3/9 =1
    G.D.

  26. 3/9 + 2/4 + 1/6 = 1

  27. Rudolf Österreicher

    The unique solutions are
    1/4 + 2/8 + 3/6
    1/6 + 3/9 + 2/4
    1/6 + 3/9 + 4/8
    You can swap the numerators or the addends (fractions) around to get 6*6=36 times as many solutions.

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