Question

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

Answer 1

`-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`