2016 NS 4

\(\text{What are we supposed to vary here in order to get the max and min values?}\\ \text{The order of the numbers? The parens, or lack of them?}\\ \text{This is a very unclear question}\)

This is a play with numbers exercise.  You can use a calculator.

The idea is that you try different combinations and see what happens (write down the question and answer each time, neatly underneath each other)

This will help teach you how numbers work together.

If we just hand you the answer then you will learn nothing.

Suggestion and hints:

1)  First put the numbers from smallest to largest.

2)  If you divide a number by something bigger than 1 then your number will get smaller.

3)  If you divide a number by something smaller than 1 then your number will get bigger.

              So if you want a big number which out of those 3 will you be dividing by? 

4) Division usually has more impact than addition.

Now thinking about what I have said and you can try your own combinations and tell us what you think the answer is.

Remember that this site is a calculator site.  

Please no one answer over the top of me.  I am trying to teach.

EDIT:

Oh dear I ahve missed out the absolute bit.   Another thing for you to play with.     

I also missed your comment about the 'book' answer. 

When you asked this question you would have been better off to tell us what answer you were trying to get and also tell us what the closest you had got so far was, with the working of course.   Then I would have formed a more appropriate answer for you because I would have understood better what you already knew and what you had tried already.

You can still tell us the closest you have got though.

Here's what I tried (maybe I will figure it out with Melody's advice. Who knows?):

So, first let's order the numbers from least to greatest:

1/10 = 0.1

3 1/2=3.5

2 4/5=2.8

So, our order is 1/10, 2 4/5, 3 1/2.

First, I will try to make the biggest number that I can.

Since, as Melody said:

So, to find the biggest number, I will have something like this: (big thing + big thing)/(small thing) 

So we will have (2.8+3.5)/0.1 = 6.3/0.1 = 63 for our biggest number.

Now I will try to make the smallest number that I can.

We can have the reciprocal of the biggest number we can get, which we just found to be 33. So, the smallest number is 1/63.

So, our answer is 63 - 1/63 = 62 62/63.

Wow, I just solved my own question. Thanks a lot for your help Melody. I wouldn't have solved it without your suggestions and hints (or your help).

Thanks a lot .

Now let's do the next problem.