one-fifth the difference between two numbers

Guri Bee

2 min read

·

19-10-2024

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Unlocking the Mystery: One-Fifth the Difference Between Two Numbers

Have you ever encountered a word problem that mentions "one-fifth the difference between two numbers?" This can seem confusing at first, but understanding the steps involved is surprisingly straightforward. Let's break down this concept and explore how to solve problems involving this phrase.

Understanding the Phrase

The phrase "one-fifth the difference between two numbers" implies a series of mathematical operations:

1. Difference: We first need to find the difference between the two numbers. This means subtracting the smaller number from the larger number.
2. One-fifth: We then need to take one-fifth of this difference. This means dividing the difference by 5.

Illustrative Example

Let's say our two numbers are 15 and 7.

1. Difference: 15 - 7 = 8
2. One-fifth: 8 / 5 = 1.6

Therefore, one-fifth the difference between 15 and 7 is 1.6.

Practical Applications

This concept can be applied in various real-life scenarios:

• Discounts: If a store offers a discount of "one-fifth the difference" between the original price and a competitor's price, you can easily calculate your savings.
• Sharing: If you want to split a difference between two friends one-fifth in your favor, this concept can help you calculate your share.
• Data Analysis: In data analysis, you might need to determine the difference between two sets of data and then calculate a specific proportion of that difference.

Coding Perspective

The idea of calculating "one-fifth the difference" can be implemented in various programming languages. For instance, in Python, you can use the following code:

def one_fifth_difference(num1, num2):
    """
    Calculates one-fifth the difference between two numbers.

    Args:
        num1 (int): The first number.
        num2 (int): The second number.

    Returns:
        float: One-fifth the difference between the two numbers.
    """
    difference = abs(num1 - num2)
    one_fifth = difference / 5
    return one_fifth

# Example usage
result = one_fifth_difference(15, 7)
print(f"One-fifth the difference between 15 and 7 is: {result}")

This code defines a function one_fifth_difference that takes two numbers as input and returns one-fifth of their difference.

Key Takeaways

• "One-fifth the difference between two numbers" implies subtracting the smaller number from the larger number and then dividing the result by 5.
• This concept has practical applications in various fields, including retail, finance, and data analysis.
• The concept can be easily implemented in programming languages like Python, allowing you to automate calculations.

Remember, by breaking down word problems into smaller steps and understanding the underlying mathematical operations, you can tackle even the most complex challenges.