Common Core 2025: Mixed Fractions + Order of Operations (PEMDAS) Explanation
Learn how to simplify a tricky mixed-fraction expression by turning a “same over same” fraction into 1, then applying PEMDAS left to right. Perfect for students who rush multiplication/division steps and get the wrong answer.
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What you'll learn
- Rewrite “same over same” fractions as 1 to simplify quickly
- Convert a mixed number into an easier form before calculating
- Apply multiplication and division left to right to avoid PEMDAS errors
- Check your work by simplifying step by step
About this lesson
Confused by a mixed-fraction expression that keeps giving the “wrong” answer? See how to rewrite a fraction like 999/999 as 1, turning 9 999/999 into 10. Then follow PEMDAS and handle multiplication and division from left to right. You’ll learn a fast, reliable way to avoid common order-of-operations mistakes.
Convert the mixed number first: since 999/999 = 1, the mixed number 9 999/999 becomes 9 + 1 = 10. Then simplify the expression using order of operations, doing multiplication and division left to right.
How do you solve mixed-fraction expressions using PEMDAS?
Step 1: Simplify the fraction part. If the numerator and denominator are the same, the fraction equals 1 (for example, 999/999 = 1).
Step 2: Rewrite the mixed number. Turn 9 999/999 into 10, then substitute it back into the expression.
Step 3: Follow PEMDAS. With only multiplication and division left, compute from left to right: 10 × 9 = 90, then 90 ÷ 9 = 10.
Result: The expression evaluates to 10.
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