ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Schuette–Nesbitt formula

Okay kiddo, let me try to explain the Schuette-Nesbitt formula in a simple way!

You know how sometimes you have to do math problems with fractions? For example, you might have to add 1/2 + 1/4 or divide 3/4 by 2/5. Those fractions have a top number and a bottom number, and you can use them to figure out how much of something you have.

But what if you have a really big fraction, like 573/902? That's pretty hard to work with! That's where the Schuette-Nesbitt formula comes in. It's a special trick you can use to turn big fractions into smaller, easier ones.

Here's how it works. Let's say you have a fraction like 573/902. First, you find the difference between the top number and the bottom number. In this case, that would be 902 - 573, which equals 329. Then, you take that difference and divide it into the bottom number. So you'd do 329/902, which gives you the new bottom number of your simplified fraction.

Next, you take that new bottom number and subtract the original top number from it. So in our example, we would do 902 - 573, which equals 329 again. This time, we use that number as the top number of our simplified fraction.

So the Schuette-Nesbitt formula has taken the big fraction 573/902 and turned it into the smaller fraction 329/573. That's much easier to work with!

Now, this formula might not seem very useful for everyday math problems. But sometimes in advanced math or science, you might come across really complicated fractions that you need to simplify. And that's when the Schuette-Nesbitt formula can be a big help!

I hope that helps you understand the Schuette-Nesbitt formula, kiddo!