-3/9 can i reduce this

Question

can i reduce a negetive

Answer 1

At any point with a negative you can consider it a negative one times whatever you have. (-1)*

so

(-1)*(3/9)

reduce just the fraction

3/9=1/3

and always remember your negatives

(-1)*(1/3)=-1/3

 

If you were thinking about reducing a negative, it only applies when you have multiple negatives either multiplied or divided together. That is a negative will not reduce by itself or with number or fractions. But you can consider multiple negatives to reduce with each other.

(-1)/(-3)=1/3 as the negatives cancel

A simple check is how many negatives are there. If there is a odd amount then the answer is negative, if there is an even amount then the answer is positive.

In your problem there is one (odd) so the answer is going to be negative.

In my example there are two (even) so the answer is going to be positive.

Just remember to apply any powers to the negative also, (-2)² is two negatives (-2)*(-2). While (-2)⁹ is 9 negatives (odd) 

Answer 2

divide top and bottom by 3 and you get -1/3