Question

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

Answer 1

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!