Fractions?

[batman1243]

In a booklet that I have to do in the summer for 7th grade is focusing on fractions right now. I've done fractions before but I'm a little lost.
The question is:
Carlos is redesigning his dining room. The room measures 8 1/4 feet by 10 1/2 feet. He has several pieces of furniture that he plans to put in the room. If he places two buffet tables with widths of 2/3 of a yard and 3/4 of a yard side-by-side along the wall, what will be the total length of the tables? Show your answer in simplest form.

 

[Denis]

In a booklet that I have to do in the summer for 7th grade is focusing on fractions right now. I've done fractions before but I'm a little lost.
The question is:
Carlos is redesigning his dining room. The room measures 8 1/4 feet by 10 1/2 feet. He has several pieces of furniture that he plans to put in the room. If he places two buffet tables with widths of 2/3 of a yard and 3/4 of a yard side-by-side along the wall, what will be the total length of the tables? Show your answer in simplest form.

Did you post the full problem?
If so, why give the room size; all you need is add up the 2 tables... :shock:

 

[batman1243]

Yes, that is the full problem. And I don't understand if I add up the widths or what? And don't get why they put the room dementions either...

 

[JeffM]

In a booklet that I have to do in the summer for 7th grade is focusing on fractions right now. I've done fractions before but I'm a little lost.
The question is:
Carlos is redesigning his dining room. The room measures 8 1/4 feet by 10 1/2 feet. He has several pieces of furniture that he plans to put in the room. If he places two buffet tables with widths of 2/3 of a yard and 3/4 of a yard side-by-side along the wall, what will be the total length of the tables? Show your answer in simplest form.

The question is mysterious as posed. As you and Denis have both said it is not obvious why the dimensions of the room matter.
I am guessing, but do the tables EACH have a width of 2/3 of a yard and a length of 3/4 of a yard. The question asks about lengths, but seems to have no information about the lengths of either table, just widths. Furthermore, there is more than one way to place the tables side by side.

It might be helpful to copy the problem exactly as stated in the booklet

 

[Denis]

The room measures 8 1/4 feet by 10 1/2 feet. If he places two buffet tables with widths of 2/3 of a yard and 3/4 of a yard side-by-side along the wall, what will be the total length of the tables?

Convert all of them to inches:
8 1/4 feet = 99 inches, 10 1/2 feet = 126 inches, 2/3 yard = 24 inches, 3/4 yard = 27 inches.
Hmmm....24 + 24 + 24 + 27 = 99 and 24 + 24 + 24 + 27 + 27 = 126.
Sure looks as if the original problem WAS something other than simply adding 2 table lengths!