How would you write -1 13/56 as an improper fraction? If it wasn't negative, the answer would be 69/56. Since it is negative, is the answer -69/56? OR is the answer -43/56, which a colleague says; his reasoning being, to find the numerator: -1 x 56 = - 56; then add 13 to get -43. So his answer is -43/56. Which is correct?
-43/56 is greater than -1, but the mixed number is actually less than -1, therefore your colleague's answer is not correct; -69/56 is the answer. I always used to solve these by ignoring the negative sign, solving as if the mixed number was positive, then tacking the negative sign back onto the improper fraction.
Hello, jacklogan!
Your colleague is dangerously wrong.
I hope he doesn't apply that to Real Life.
Suppose he had $5.75 and he spent $2.25.
. . How much would he have left?
His answer would be $4.00.
How would he get that awful answer?
. . Like this . . .
. .
![\begin{array}{ccccccccc}\$5.75 - 2.25 &=& 5\frac{3}{4} - 2\frac{1}{4} \\ \\[-3mm] & = & 5 + \frac{3}{4} - 2 \;{\color{red}+\;\frac{1}{4}} \\ \\[-3mm] &=& (5-2) + (\frac{3}{4} + \frac{1}{4}) \\ \\[-3mm] &=& 3 + \frac{4}{4}\\ \\[-3mm] &=& \$4 \end{array}](http://latex.codecogs.com/png.latex?\begin{array}{ccccccccc}\$5.75 - 2.25 &=& 5\frac{3}{4} - 2\frac{1}{4} \\ \\[-3mm] & = & 5 + \frac{3}{4} - 2 \;{\color{red}+\;\frac{1}{4}} \\ \\[-3mm] &=& (5-2) + (\frac{3}{4} + \frac{1}{4}) \\ \\[-3mm] &=& 3 + \frac{4}{4}\\ \\[-3mm] &=& \$4 \end{array})
Ask him to consider this . . .
What is?
He believes it means: .
If that is true, why didn't they writein the first place?
This whole thread is result of just out-of-date group of people.Originally Posted by jacklogan
The truth is there is absolutely no reason to use so-called improper fractions.
Given the wide use of calculators and computer algebra systems in which improper fractions have no place, what good are they? Let's drop their use!
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