How do you simplify #-1 2/3 + (-2 1/4) #?

1 Answer
Monae
Jul 22, 2016

Take a look at the explanation.

Explanation:

To make things easier, I would start off by turning those mixed fractions into improper ones.

#- 5/3 + (-9/4)#

I would then add them, like I would add any other normal fraction.

First, find the Least Common Denominator (LCD) between the two fractions. I found that by multiplying #-5/3# by #4/4# and multiplying #-9/4# by #3/3#. Why did I do that? Multiplying the fractions by each other's denominators was the easiest way I could get the LCD. So now we have:

#-5/3*4/4 + (-9/4)*3/3#

We multiply the numerators and the denominators and this is what we get:

#-20/12 + (-27/12)#

Add the numerators (but do not add the denominators) and now we have:

#-47/12#

Let's turn this into a mixed fraction (just for the sake of it):

#-3 11/12#

And there goes your answer!

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