negative one and two tenths minus 5 tenths
-1.2 - 0.5 = -1.7
2/10 = .2
5/10=.5
-1.2-0.5 = -1.2+(-0.5)= -1.7
To subtract negative numbers, we can follow these steps:
1. Start with the first number, which is negative one and two tenths (-1.2).
2. The subtraction sign (-) indicates that we need to subtract the next number.
3. The second number is five tenths (0.5).
4. To subtract, we can rewrite the subtraction problem as an addition problem. So, we change the subtraction sign to an addition sign and change the sign of the second number.
-1.2 + (-0.5)
5. Add the two numbers together. Since both numbers have different signs, we need to subtract their absolute values and take the sign of the larger number.
1.2 - 0.5 = 0.7
6. Since the larger number had a negative sign, the final answer is negative.
7. Therefore, -1.2 - 0.5 = -0.7.
So, negative one and two tenths minus five tenths equals negative seven tenths (-0.7).