Question

In Allenville it snowed 4 2/5 inches in the morning and 8 1/10 inches in the afternoon. What was the total amount of snowfall?

Write your answer as a fraction or as a whole or mixed number.

Answer 1

To find the total amount of snowfall in Allenville, we need to add the two amounts of snow together:

1. **Convert the mixed numbers to improper fractions:**
- For \( 4 \frac{2}{5} \):
\[
4 \frac{2}{5} = \frac{4 \times 5 + 2}{5} = \frac{20 + 2}{5} = \frac{22}{5}
\]
- For \( 8 \frac{1}{10} \):
\[
8 \frac{1}{10} = \frac{8 \times 10 + 1}{10} = \frac{80 + 1}{10} = \frac{81}{10}
\]

2. **Find a common denominator for the two fractions:**
- The denominators are 5 and 10. The least common denominator (LCD) is 10.

3. **Convert \( \frac{22}{5} \) to have a denominator of 10:**
\[
\frac{22}{5} = \frac{22 \times 2}{5 \times 2} = \frac{44}{10}
\]

4. **Now add the two fractions:**
\[
\frac{44}{10} + \frac{81}{10} = \frac{44 + 81}{10} = \frac{125}{10}
\]

5. **Simplify \( \frac{125}{10} \):**
- Both the numerator and the denominator can be divided by 5:
\[
\frac{125 \div 5}{10 \div 5} = \frac{25}{2}
\]

6. **Convert \( \frac{25}{2} \) to a mixed number:**
\[
25 \div 2 = 12 \quad \text{with a remainder of } 1
\]
- So, \( \frac{25}{2} = 12 \frac{1}{2} \).

Thus, the total amount of snowfall in Allenville was \( \boxed{12 \frac{1}{2}} \) inches.