48 2/9 + (-39 8/9)

Question

I am a student who struggles in math with negative numbers and fractions

Answer 1

First step: take both numbers and turn them from mixed numbers into fractions with the same denominator of 9.

48=(48/1)

(48/1)*(9/9)=(432/9)

so, 48 2/9 equals (432/9)+(2/9) which equals 434/9

39=(39/1)

(39/1)*(9/9)=(359/9)

so, 39 8/9 equals (359/9)+(8/9) which equals 359/9

Now that the denominators are the same, we can simply add or subtract the numerators. When you add a negative number, it’s the same as subtraction.

A positive and a positive make a positive

A negative and a positive make a negative

A positive and a negative make a negative

And a negative and a negative cancel out to make a positive.

Let’s rewrite the question now:

(434/9)+(-359/9)

=(434/9)-(359/9)

434-359 equals 75 and the denominator, 9, doesn’t change

So our answer is 75/9

However, now we have to simplify this fraction. 9 can go into 75 eight full times - 9 times 8 is 72. That leaves us with 3 left over in the numerator.

(75/9) is equal to 8 3/9ths

3/9th can also be simplified! Divide both the numerator and denominator by 3, and you get 1/3.

The final answer is 8 1/3.

Our steps were:

1) Change mixed numbers into fractions with the same denominator

2) Simplify the problem (a positive and a negative make a negative, so instead of adding a negative, we’re subtracting)

3) Use the numerators to do the operation (subtraction)

4) Simplify the fraction as much as possible