How do you evaluate #-5- - 4\frac { 1} { 4} + 3\frac { 1} { 4} + - 6#?

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Answer 1 · 2018-07-10T00:58:10

#-3 1/2#

Let's simplify the addition / subtraction signs first. Here's a simple rule,
BBC-Two signs

#-5- -4 1/4+3 1/4 + -6#
=#-5color(red)+4 1/4+3 1/4color(red) -6#

Next step is to convert all number to improper fractions to make adding and subtracting easy. We'll keep 4 as the denominator (number at the bottom).

=#-20/4+17/4+13/4 -24/4#

=#(-20+17+13-24)/4#

=#-14/4#

=#-3 2/4# (convert to mixed fraction)

=#-3 1/2# (simplify 2/4 to 1/2)