Thread: simple question on negatives

dumb dumb
ok i don't beleive i'm asking but example: (-7)+(-18)= IT'S -25 RIGHT?

BUT WHEN YOU DO IT IN FRACTONS
LIKE: 5/12+(-1/4)
YOU FIND THE COMMON DENOMENATOR
WHICH IS 12 SO IT COMES OUT TO
5/12+ (-3/12)
AND YOU ANSWER IS POSITIVE 8/9
AND WHAT IF IT'S TWO NEGATIVES AND YOUR ADDING THEM DO YOU JUST ADD THEM? i'M SERIOUSLY CONFUSED AND DON'T KNOW WHY? gRR

(5/12) - (-3/12) = (5/12) + (3/12) = 8/12

(5/12) + (-3/12) = (5/12) - (3/12) = 2/12

If you do it carefully, one step at a time, you are less likely to be confused.

thank you for your help tkhoney my options are for answers
3/8, -5/48, 1/2, or 1/6
never mind reduce 2/12 and you get 1/6 got it! thank you

Originally Posted by lexysmama04@yahoo.com

dumb dumb
ok i don't beleive i'm asking but example: (-7)+(-18)= IT'S -25 RIGHT?

BUT WHEN YOU DO IT IN FRACTONS
LIKE: 5/12+(-1/4)
YOU FIND THE COMMON DENOMENATOR
WHICH IS 12 SO IT COMES OUT TO
5/12+ (-3/12)
AND YOU ANSWER IS POSITIVE 8/9
AND WHAT IF IT'S TWO NEGATIVES AND YOUR ADDING THEM DO YOU JUST ADD THEM? i'M SERIOUSLY CONFUSED AND DON'T KNOW WHY? gRR

i wrote it down for the next problem. i had it right thank you again

Originally Posted by TKHunny

(5/12) - (-3/12) = (5/12) + (3/12) = 8/12

(5/12) + (-3/12) = (5/12) - (3/12) = 2/12

If you do it carefully, one step at a time, you are less likely to be confused.

Even if there is a negative in a fraction question you know for eg 5/12+(-1/4)
well you know that when a + and a - come together it makes a minus so you'd treat the question as you would any normal subtracting fractions question and even if there were two minuses after figuring out what happens when two signs go together you'd treat it like that sort of question.
Eg. -5/12 +(-1/4)
You'd figure out that the middle + and - when put together make a minus so the question would be -5/12 - 1/4 which then you find the common denominator and then figure out the top
so
step 1: common denominator = 12
so there the question will be now: -5/12 - 3/12
step 2: figure out the top [numerator] now since you know what the bottom is
so..-5 -3 would be equal -8
step 3: simplify if possible
since you can simplify in this case it would be -2/3

and for questions like -5/12 - (-1/4)
remember first figure out the sign thats going to be in the middle of this question which would be a + since when 2 minuses are put together they make a + and then you treat the question as normal and figure the answer out
I know that was very long and confusing but I hope i somehow helped

-7+(-18) does = -25
5/12+(-1/4)=5/12+(-3/12)
3/12 is a smaller number than 5/12, therefore when you take a smaller number from a bigger one, the answer will be a positive number.
aka, 5/12 - 3/12 = 2/12 = 1/6