Ginger's baby weighed only 3 3/8 pounds when it was born. The doctor said it could not leave the hospital until it weighed 5 1/2 pounds. How many pounds must the baby gain before it can go home to Ginger?

To subtract 3 3/8 from 5 1/2,

by turning into fractions

[ (5x2) + 1]/2 = 11/2

[ (3x8) + 3]/8 = 27/8

11/2 - 27/8

To subtract fractions, your denominator needs to have the same number. so multiply it by 4

44/8 - 27/8 = (44-27) / 8 = 17/8.

17 / 8 pounds or 2 and 1/8 because 17 / 8 = 2 remainder 1.

In terms of weight that is 2.125 pounds.