could someone please explain to me how -5/8 + 1/4 = -3/8?
I have several more of these problems -5/8 + -1/6 = -19/24, and more. I have no reference in my text on how to do these. Can someone take me through the steps?
Think about a number line.
You start at -5/8. Then move 2/8 to the left. You're now at -3/8
http://www.helpingwithmath.com/printables/others/lin0301fraction02.htm
-5/8 + -1/6 = -19/24
You need to convert these to equivalent fractions with a common denominator.
-5/8 = - 15/24
-1/6 = - 4/24
After looking at 50 or so of these equations the problem I seem to have is the common denominator and the multiplying the divisible by the top number on each fraction. Some of these are very simple and others are very confusing. The above I understand now.
Sure! I can explain how to solve these addition problems with fractions step by step.
To add fractions, follow these steps:
Step 1: Make sure the denominators (the bottom numbers) are the same. If they are already the same, you can move on to step 2.
In the case of -5/8 + 1/4, the denominators are different: 8 and 4.
Step 2: Find a common denominator. To do this, you need to find the least common multiple (LCM) of the two denominators. In this case, the LCM of 8 and 4 is 8.
Step 3: Rewrite the fractions with the common denominator.
For -5/8, you can multiply both the numerator and denominator by 1 to keep the fraction the same: -5/8 = (-5 * 1)/(8 * 1) = -5/8.
For 1/4, you need to multiply both the numerator and denominator by 2 to make the denominator 8: 1/4 = (1 * 2)/ (4 * 2) = 2/8.
Now you have -5/8 + 2/8.
Step 4: Add the numerators while keeping the denominator the same.
-5/8 + 2/8 = (-5 + 2)/8 = -3/8.
Therefore, -5/8 + 1/4 equals -3/8.
Now, let's apply the same steps to the second problem: -5/8 + -1/6.
Step 1: The denominators are different: 8 and 6.
Step 2: The LCM of 8 and 6 is 24.
Step 3: Rewrite the fractions with the common denominator.
-5/8 remains the same: -5/8.
-1/6 needs to be multiplied by 4 to make the denominator 24: -1/6 = (-1 * 4)/ (6 * 4) = -4/24.
Now you have -5/8 + -4/24.
Step 4: Add the numerators while keeping the denominator the same.
-5/8 + -4/24 = (-5 + -4) /24 = -9/24.
Finally, you can simplify -9/24 by dividing both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor (gcd), which in this case is 3.
-9/24 = (-9/3) / (24/3) = -3/8.
Therefore, -5/8 + -1/6 equals -3/8.
Hopefully, this explanation helps you understand how to solve addition problems with fractions. Let me know if you have any more questions!