How do you simplify #\frac { 8} { - 1} - 5- ( - 9)#?

1 Answer
Mar 24, 2017

# = -4#

Explanation:

There are 3 terms. Simplify each one separately to a single value.

#color(red)(8/-1)color(blue)( -5)color(magenta)( -(-9))#

=#color(red)(-8)color(blue)( -5)color(magenta)(+9)#

Re-arrange with the additions first:

#=color(magenta)(+9)color(red)(-8)color(blue)( -5)#

#= +9-13#

#=-4#

Or work from left to right:

=#color(red)(-8)color(blue)( -5)color(magenta)(+9)#

#=-13 +9#

# = -4#