Simplify the following:
-(1/4 + 4) + (1/2 + 9)
Put 4 + 1/4 over the common denominator 4. 4 + 1/4 = (4×4)/4 + 1/4:
-(4×4)/4 + 1/4 + 9 + 1/2
4×4 = 16:
-(16/4 + 1/4) + 9 + 1/2
16/4 + 1/4 = (16 + 1)/4:
-(16 + 1)/4 + 9 + 1/2
16 + 1 = 17:
-17/4 + 9 + 1/2
Put -17/4 + 9 + 1/2 over the common denominator 4. -17/4 + 9 + 1/2 = (-17)/4 + (4×9)/4 + 2/4:
(-17)/4 + (4×9)/4 + 2/4
4×9 = 36:
(-17)/4 + 36/4 + 2/4
(-17)/4 + 36/4 + 2/4 = (-17 + 36 + 2)/4:
(-17 + 36 + 2)/4
36 + 2 = 38:
(38 - 17)/4
| 3 | 8
- | 1 | 7
| 2 | 1:
Answer: 21/4 or 5.25 decimal