Question

If -1 2/3 is subtracted from 5 1/2, what will be the result?

negative
equal to 4
positive, but less than 4
greater than 4

Answer 1

Answer: The answer is negative.

Step-by-step explanation: To double check go to a Comparing Fractions Calculator and compare -7 1/6 and 4

Answer 2

Note that subtracting a negative number from another number is equivalent to adding the magnitude of the negative number to the other number. Thus,

subtracting -1 2/3 from 5 1/2 is equivalent to adding 1 2/3 to 5 1/2.

Here the LCD is 3(2) = 6. Let's add 1 4/6 to 5 3/6. We get 6 7/6, or more properly, 7 1/6 (answer).