What is -7 3/8 - (-1 7/12)?
Adding and subtracting fractions is so messy! Let's use decimals.
-7.375 + 1.583 = ?
Thank you! :)
Is it -5.792?
You're welcome. And your answer is right.
To subtract mixed numbers like -7 3/8 and -(-1 7/12), follow these steps:
Step 1: Convert the mixed numbers to improper fractions:
-7 3/8 = -59/8
-(-1 7/12) = 1 7/12 = 19/12
Step 2: Rewrite the subtraction as addition by changing the sign of the second fraction:
-59/8 + 19/12
Step 3: Find a common denominator for the fractions. The least common multiple (LCM) of 8 and 12 is 24.
Step 4: Convert the fractions to have a denominator of 24:
-59/8 = -177/24
19/12 = 38/24
Step 5: Perform the addition by adding the numerators and keeping the common denominator:
-177/24 + 38/24 = -139/24
Therefore, -7 3/8 - (-1 7/12) is equal to -139/24.