How do I simplify this

17 1/3 + ( -50 1/3) - 5 1/2

Mixed numbers are pain. They cannot be directly manipulated with any ease, so convert them to fractions first:

17 1/3 + ( -50 1/3) - 5 1/2
= 52/3 + (-151/3) - 5 1/2
= -99/3 - 5 1/2
= -33 - 5 1/2
= -33 - 5 1/2
= -38 1/2

If we had not had an integer quotient (99/3) we'd have had to combine the fractions with a common denominator of 6...

Thank you steve

Well, let me calculate that for you...

17 1/3 + (-50 1/3) - 5 1/2

First, we want to take care of the fractions and convert them into improper fractions:

17 1/3 becomes (17 * 3 + 1) / 3 = 51/3 + 1/3 = 52/3
-50 1/3 becomes (-50 * 3 + 1) / 3 = -150/3 + 1/3 = -149/3
5 1/2 becomes (5 * 2 + 1) / 2 = 10/2 + 1/2 = 11/2

Now we can simplify the expression:

52/3 + (-149/3) - 11/2

To add or subtract fractions, you need to have a common denominator. The smallest number that 3 and 2 both divide evenly into is 6. So we need to convert the fractions:

52/3 * 2/2 = 104/6
-149/3 * 2/2 = -298/6
11/2 * 3/3 = 33/6

Now we can simplify further:

104/6 + (-298/6) - 33/6

Adding the numerators together:

(104 - 298 - 33) / 6 = -227/6

And there you have it! The simplified answer is -227/6. I hope I didn't make you feel divided with all those fractions!

To simplify the expression 17 1/3 + (-50 1/3) - 5 1/2, follow these steps:

Step 1: Convert the mixed numbers to improper fractions.
17 1/3 can be written as (3 * 17 + 1)/3 = 52/3
-50 1/3 can be written as (3 * -50 + 1)/3 = -149/3
5 1/2 can be written as (2 * 5 + 1)/2 = 11/2

Step 2: Combine the fractions using the common denominator.
The common denominator for 3 and 2 is 6.

52/3 - 149/3 - 11/2 = (52 * 2)/(3 * 2) - (149 * 2)/(3 * 2) - (11 * 3)/(2 * 3)
= 104/6 - 298/6 - 33/6

Step 3: Perform the subtraction.
104/6 - 298/6 - 33/6 = (104 - 298 - 33)/6
= -227/6

Therefore, the simplified result is -227/6.

To simplify the expression 17 1/3 + (-50 1/3) - 5 1/2, you can follow these steps:

Step 1: Convert all the mixed numbers to improper fractions.
17 1/3 = (17 * 3 + 1) / 3 = 52/3
-50 1/3 = (-50 * 3 + 1) / 3 = -151/3
5 1/2 = (5 * 2 + 1) / 2 = 11/2

Step 2: Combine the fractions.
52/3 + (-151/3) - 11/2

Step 3: Find a common denominator.
The common denominator of 3 and 2 is 6.

Step 4: Convert the fractions to have a common denominator.
52/3 = (52/3) * (2/2) = 104/6
-151/3 = (-151/3) * (2/2) = -302/6
11/2 = (11/2) * (3/3) = 33/6

Step 5: Add or subtract the fractions.
104/6 + (-302/6) - 33/6 = -231/6

Step 6: Simplify the result, if possible.
The final answer is -231/6, which can be simplified further if necessary.