-3/4 + ( -1/2 )

Question

What is -3/4 + -1/2?

Would it be -1.25?

Answer 1

You must have a common denominator to add fractions. To get a common denominator, first look at the denominators you have (they are 4 and 2) and see if the largest one could be the common denominator. Yes, 4 can be the common denominator because 2 * 2 = 4.

So now, change the fraction that has the 2 in the denominator by multiplying both the numerator and denominator by 2. That means it becomes -2/4.

Now add the numerators and keep the denominator the same. -3 + -2 = -5 so the answer is -5/4.

You may be required to turn this into a mixed number, I'm not sure if you were given that instruction or not. If you do need to then divide 4 into 5 and you get 1 with a remainder of 1. That means the mixed number will be - 1 1/4