How do you evaluate #-4\frac { 1} { 4} + - 2\frac { 3} { 4} #?

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Answer 1 · 2017-08-13T15:04:30

See a solution process below:

First, convert each mixed number to an improper fraction:

#-4 1/4 + -2 3/4 =>#

#-(4 + 1/4) + -(2 + 3/4) =>#

#-([4/4 xx 4] + 1/4) + -([4/4 xx 2] + 3/4) =>#

#-(16/4 + 1/4) + -(8/4 + 3/4) =>#

#-17/4 + -11/4 =>#

#-17/4 - 11/4#

Now, we can subtract the numerators over the common denominator:

#-17/4 - 11/4 => (-17 - 11)/4 => -28/4#

Now we can factor and cancel common terms in the numerator and denominator:

#-28/4 => (4 xx -7)/4 => (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(4))) xx -7)/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(4))) = -7#