Inactive Tutor answered • 08/01/14
Tutor
New to Wyzant
Order of Operation - Solve the fractions within the parentheses first.
1. You cannot add or subtract the fraction because the denominators are different, therefore find the Least Common Multiple (LCM).
Common multiples for 6 are: 6, 12, 18...
Common multiples for 4 are: 4, 8, 12, 16...
Common multiples for 3 are: 3, 6, 9,12,15...
The LCM is 12 as shown above.
2.For 5/6 divide 12 by 6 to get 2, then multiply 2 by 5 to get 10 = 10/12
For -3/4 divide 12 by 4 to get 3, then multiply 3 by 3 to get 9 = -9/12
For 2/3 divide 12 by 3 to get 4, then multiply 4 by 2 to get 8 = 8/12
3. Now subtract the fractions to get 9/12. Reduce by dividing both 9 and 12 by 3 the LCF.
9 divided by 3 = 3
12 divided by 3 = 4
The reduced fraction is 3/4.
4. Now multiply 1/3 by 3/4 = 1/4 Answer.
Thanks Carl
