How do you simplify #-2/8+3/5#?

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Answer 1 · 2016-08-30T07:33:16

#7/20#

Before you can add or subtract fractions, they need to have the same denominators. In this case it will be 40.

40 is the LCD - the first number that both 8 and 5 can divide into.

Make equivalent fractions:

#-2/8 color(red)(xx5/5) + 3/5 color(blue)(xx8/8)#

= #(-10 +24)/40#

=#14/40 (div2)/(div2)# to simplify

=#7/20#