-22 2/5 - 1 1/4 x (-2 1/2) =

How do i work that out??

Decide which operation to perform first. Your single pair of parentheses around one number does not help. Is it
(-22 2/5 - 1 1/4) x -2 1/2
or
-22 2/5 - (1 1/4 x -2 1/2) ?
They are not the same.

To solve the expression -22 2/5 - 1 1/4 x (-2 1/2), you need to decide which operation to perform first. The order of operations, also known as PEMDAS, is a set of rules that tells you which operations to perform in what order. PEMDAS stands for Parentheses, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (from left to right), and Addition and Subtraction (from left to right).

Based on the given expression, there is only one pair of parentheses around the expression (-2 1/2), so we need to determine how to interpret it. The two possibilities are:

1. (-22 2/5 - 1 1/4) x (-2 1/2)
2. -22 2/5 - (1 1/4 x -2 1/2)

These two interpretations will yield different results, so it's important to determine the correct one.

In interpretation 1, we would perform the addition and subtraction inside the parentheses first, and then multiply the result by (-2 1/2):
1. Convert both mixed numbers to improper fractions:
-22 2/5 = -112/5
1 1/4 = 5/4
2. Perform the addition and subtraction:
-112/5 - 5/4 = (-448/20) - (25/20) = -473/20
3. Multiply the result by (-2 1/2):
-473/20 x (-2 1/2)
To multiply fractions, multiply the numerators together and the denominators together:
(-473 x (-5)) / (20 x 2)
Simplify the result:
(2365/40) = 59 1/4

So, if we interpret the expression as (-22 2/5 - 1 1/4) x (-2 1/2), the result would be 59 1/4.

In interpretation 2, we would perform the multiplication inside the parentheses first, and then subtract the result from -22 2/5:
1. Convert the mixed number (-2 1/2) to improper fraction:
-2 1/2 = -5/2
2. Perform the multiplication:
1 1/4 x (-5/2)
Convert both mixed numbers to improper fractions:
1 1/4 = 5/4
Multiply the fractions:
(5/4) x (-5/2) = (-25/8)
3. Subtract the result from -22 2/5:
-22 2/5 - (-25/8)
Convert both mixed numbers to improper fractions:
-22 2/5 = -112/5
Subtract the fractions:
(-112/5) - (-25/8)
To subtract fractions, find a common denominator and subtract the numerators:
(-112/5) - (-25/8) = (-896/40) - (-125/40) = (-896 + 125) / 40 = (-771/40)
Simplify the result:
(-771/40) = -19 11/40

So, if we interpret the expression as -22 2/5 - (1 1/4 x -2 1/2), the result would be -19 11/40.

To determine the correct interpretation, you would need to refer to the context or equation given in the problem.