Question

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

Answer 1

`-3/5+1 1/4=color(blue)(13/20`

Explanation:

Simplify:

`-3/5+1 1/4`

Convert `1 1/4` to an improper fraction by multiplying the denominator by the whole number, then add the numerator, and place it over the denominator.

`((4xx1+1))/4`

Simplify.

`5/4`

Rewrite the expression.

`-3/5+5/4`

In order to add or subtract fractions, they must have the same denominator. You can multiply the denominators to get the least common denominator (LCD). `5xx4=20`, so the LCM is 20.#

Multiply each fraction by another fraction that equals `1`, and gives it the denominator `20`. For example: `7/7=1`. Multiplying by `1` does not change the value of the fraction.

`-3/5xxcolor(blue)4/color(blue)4+5/4xxcolor(green)5/color(green)5`

Simplify by multiplying the numerators and denominators.

`-12/20+25/20`

Simplify.

`13/20`