Giovanna, Frances, and their dad each carried a ten pound bag of soil into the back yard. After putting soil in the first flower bed, Giovanna's bag was 5/8 full, Frances bag was 2/5 full, and their dad's was 3/4 full. How many pounds of soil did they put in the first flower bed all together (how to work it out)

First find the common denominator

5/8=25/40

2/5=16/40

3/4=30/40

Next you can cross multiply

25/40=x/10 pounds

16/40=x/10 pounds

30/40=x/10 pounds

First

25 (10) / 40 = 6.25 pounds

16 (10) / 40 = 4pounds

30 (10) / 40 = 7.5 pounds

These are the amounts that were left in the bag

10-6.25=3.75

10-4=6

10-7.5=2.5

3.75+6+2.5 = 12.25

All together they put 12.25 pounds of soil in the flower bed