Question

How do you simplify `-7 1/2 +5 1/3`?

Answer 1

See entire simplification process below:

Explanation:

First, take each mixed fraction and convert it into an improper fraction:

`-((2/2 xx 7) + 1/2) + ((3/3 xx 5) + 1/3)`

`-(14/2 + 1/2) + (15/3 + 1/3)`

`-15/2 + 16/3`

Next, we need to get each fraction over a common denominator (in this case `6`) so we can add the fractions. We do this by multiplying each fraction by the appropriate form of `1`:

`(-15/2 xx 3/3) + (16/3 xx 2/2)`

`-45/6 + 32/6`

Now, we can add the fractions:

`(-45 + 32)/6`

`-13/6`

Or

`-2 1/6`