Question

How do you simplify `\frac{15}{2}-45`?

Answer 1

The solution is `-75/2` .

Explanation:

To subtract numbers involving fractions, both have to have the same DENOMINATOR.

`15/2` has the denominator 2.
`-45` has the denominator 1.

Since 2 and 1 are not the same, change `-45` to have a denominator of 2 to make both fractions have the same denominator.

To give `-45` a denominator of 2, multiply `-45` by `2/2`.

[We can multiply by `2/2` because `2/2 = 1`, which means we didn't change the original problem! ]

You should end up with `15/2 - 90/2` .
[The 90 came from `-45 * 2 = -90`]

Now that they have the same denominator, subtract 90 from 15 to get your new numerator, `-75`!
`15-90=-75`

Keep the DENOMINATOR as `2` because when subtracting fractions, the denominator DOES NOT CHANGE.

`-75/2` cannot be simplified, so your final answer should be `-75/2` .