Question

1. a guidance counselor interviews a group of health care students to determine which health career each student will choose as his or her major in college. he creates the following pie chart.

a. what fraction of students chose either radiologic technologist or respiratory therapy?
b. what fraction of students chose either registered nursing or athletic trainer?
c. which career was chosen by the smallest number of students interviewed?
health care career major
radologic technologist 1/10
athletic trainer 3/20
registered nurse 1/4
dental hygienist 3/25
respiratory therapist 4/25
physical therapist 11/50

1. a patient care technician (pct) in a newborn nursery weighs a set of quadruplets when they are born. the infants weigh 3 1/4 pounds (lb), 2 5/8 lb, 2 1/2 lb, and 3 3/8 lb. what is the total weight for all four infants?
2. a medical laboratory technician (mlt) uses 1/2 ounce (oz), 1/4 oz, and 3/8 oz of solution to perform three urinary sedimentation tests. how much total solution does she use?

Explanation:

Step1: Find common denominator for part a

The fractions for radiologic technologist and respiratory therapy are $\frac{1}{10}$ and $\frac{4}{25}$. The common - denominator of 10 and 25 is 50.
$\frac{1}{10}=\frac{1\times5}{10\times5}=\frac{5}{50}$ and $\frac{4}{25}=\frac{4\times2}{25\times2}=\frac{8}{50}$

Step2: Add the fractions for part a

$\frac{5}{50}+\frac{8}{50}=\frac{5 + 8}{50}=\frac{13}{50}$

Step3: Find common denominator for part b

The fractions for registered nursing and athletic trainer are $\frac{1}{4}$ and $\frac{3}{20}$. The common - denominator of 4 and 20 is 20.
$\frac{1}{4}=\frac{1\times5}{4\times5}=\frac{5}{20}$

Step4: Add the fractions for part b

$\frac{5}{20}+\frac{3}{20}=\frac{5+3}{20}=\frac{8}{20}=\frac{2}{5}$

Step5: Compare fractions for part c

We have the fractions $\frac{1}{10}=\frac{5}{50}$, $\frac{1}{4}=\frac{12.5}{50}$, $\frac{3}{20}=\frac{7.5}{50}$, $\frac{3}{25}=\frac{6}{50}$, $\frac{4}{25}=\frac{8}{50}$, $\frac{11}{50}$.
The smallest fraction is $\frac{3}{25}$ (dental hygienist).

Answer:

a. $\frac{13}{50}$
b. $\frac{2}{5}$
c. Dental hygienist