What is negative 5 4ths minus positive 2 3rds??

Question

im doing homework and im super confused?!

Answer 1

-5/4 - 2/3 = - 15/12 - 8/12 = -23/12 = - 1 11/12

Answer 2

Any time you are ading or subtracting fractions you want to find like denominators. So first list the multiples of each denominator until you find the smallest number they have in common.

At my school the younger children call it skip counting. 4,8,12

Do the same with the 3=3,6,9,12. So 3and 4 have least common denominator or 12. then you take each fraction and multiply both numbers that gave you the least common denominator.

-5/4 x 3/3= -15/12 do thesame with the second fraction 2/3 x4/4 = 8/12

now you have -15/12 - 8/12 this is the same as -15/12 + -8/12 = -23/12 or -1 and11/12 as a mixed number.

 

Answer 3

Viviana (an interesting name!),

Bill gave you a competent answer to this month-old question, and I did not see it then. He showed you steps whereby he solved it, but did you understand them all?

I would guess from this topic that you are in a middle grade; 4-6?

 Adding/subtracting fractions uses the LCD concept, and here the LCD is 3*4 = 12

but I would continue this way, multiplying first fraction by 3/3  & second by 4/4 [both=1]  

(3/3)*(-5/4)  + (4/4)*(-2/3)  = -15/12 + (-8/12)  = -23/12; do you see the principle used?

If you have any later questions, like negative Decimal fractions, I am closeby

Doc Fred, Poulsbo

Answer 4

Let's first rewrite this problem in terms of somthing less confusing.

-5/4 - 2/3 each has a -1 in front of it.

(-1)(5/4) + (-1)(2/3)

Now, each term has a -1 in front, which means you can factor it out

(-1)(5/4) + (-1)(2/3) = (-1)( 5/4 + 2/3 )

Look what I have done here. I've done a reverse distribution to turn the problem into one of addition.

Now, find the least common denominator which is 12.

(-1)( 15/12 + 8/12 ) = (-1)(23/12) = -23/12

Answer 5

-5/4 - 2/3

Lowest Common denominator is 12 (both 3 and 4 go into 12)

now, -5/4 is equal to -15/12

and 2/3 is equal to 8/12

so we have

-15/12 - 8/12

= - (15 + 8)/12

= - 23/12

Answer 6

You need to remember that a negative minus a positive is the same as saying

-5/4  +   -2/3 

 

find the common demoniatior of 4 and 3 ..... 12

-5/4 then becomes -15/12

-2/3 becomes        -8/12

Add the -15/12 + -8/12 = -23/12

If you need to simplify:  Divide -23 by 12  = -1  and 11/12 or