Solve (0.5 + 2)/5: Adding Mixed Numbers in a Fraction

Order of operations (PEMDAS) tells us to solve what's in the numerator first! The fraction bar acts like parentheses, so we must calculate 0.5 + 2 = 2.5 before dividing by 5.

Divide directly: $2.5 ÷ 5 = 0.5$. Since $0.5 = \frac{1}{2}$, your final answer is $\frac{1}{2}$!

Either way works! You can add 0.5 + 2 = 2.5 then divide, OR convert $0.5 = \frac{1}{2}$ first and add $\frac{1}{2} + 2 = \frac{5}{2}$. Both give the same result.

Those answers come from misreading the problem! Students often think it's asking for $(0.5 + 2) × 5$ or mixing up operations. Always check: we're dividing a small number (2.5) by 5, so the result must be less than 1.

Convert your answer back to decimal: $\frac{1}{2} = 0.5$. Then verify: $\frac{0.5 + 2}{5} = \frac{2.5}{5} = 0.5$ ✓