How do you multiply #\frac { 16} { 17} \cdot ( - \frac { 5} { 8} )#?

1 Answer
Jul 20, 2017

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, factor and cancel common terms:

#16/17 * (-5/8) => (8 * 2)/17 * (-5/(8 xx 1)) =>#

#(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(8))) * 2)/17 * (-5/(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(8))) xx 1)) =>#

#2/17 * (-5/1)#

To multiply fractions you multiply the numerators over the denominators:

#-(2 * 5)/(17 * 1) =>#

#-10/17#