Question

How do you simplify `\frac{5--0.5}{-4--8}`?

Answer 1

`color(red)(1.375)` or `color(red)(11/8)` or `color(red)(1 3/8)`

Explanation:

`(5--0.5)/(-4--8)`

Two negative signs next to each other becomes a positive sign. So the expression becomes:
`(5+0.5)/(-4+8)`

And now we simplify:
`5.5/4`

Final answer: `color(red)(1.375)` or `color(red)(11/8)` or `color(red)(1 3/8)`

Hope this helps!