Question

What is `2 1/4 * (-3 2/5)`?

Answer 1

`-153/20`

Or

`-7 13/20`

Explanation:

First step is to convert the mixed fractions to improper fractions by multiplying the integer portion of the mixed fraction by the appropriate form of `1` and then adding it to the fraction portion of the mixed fraction:

`2 1/4 * (-3 2/5) -> ((2 * 4/4) + 1/4) * (-(3 * 5/5) + 2/5)) ->`

`(8/4 + 1/4) * (-(15/5 + 2/5)) -> 9/4 * (-17/5)`

We can now multiply the two fractions:

`9/4 * (-17/5) -> -(9 * 17)/(4 * 5) -> -153/20`

Or, converting the fraction back to an improper fraction:

`-(140 + 13)/20 -> -(140/20 + 13/20) -> -7 13/20`