How do you solve #-5\frac { 1} { 4} + 1\frac { 3} { 10} #?

1 Answer

#-79/20=-3 19/20#

Explanation:

Quick correction on the terminology - there is nothing here to "solve" - we aren't looking for a missing term or anything like that. We are simplifying an expression.

#-5 1/4+1 3/10#

Let's turn these into improper fractions:

#-21/4+13/10#

And now find common denominators:

#4=2xx2#
#10=2xx5#

We need both 2s from the 4 and the 5 from the 10:

#2xx2xx5=20#

#-21/4(1)+13/10(1)#

#-21/4(5/5)+13/10(2/2)#

#-105/20+26/20=-79/20=-3 19/20#