Question

Evaluate the expression when a = 4/5 and b = 2/9.-3b + a Write your answer in simplest form.

Answer 1

Given:

`a=(4)/(5)\text{ and }b=(2)/(9)`

Required:

`We\text{ need to evaluate the expression }-3b+a\text{ when }a=(4)/(5)\text{ and }b=(2)/(9).`

Step-by-step explanation:

`Replace\text{ }a=(4)/(5)\text{ and }b=(2)/(9)\text{ in the expression}-3b+a.\text{ }`
`-3b+a=-3((2)/(9))+(4)/(5)`

Cancel out the common term.

`-3b+a=-(2)/(3)+(4)/(5)`

The least common multiple of 3 and 5 is 15.

Making the denominator 15.

`-3b+a=-(2)/(3)*(5)/(5)+(4)/(5)*(3)/(3)`

`-3b+a=-(10)/(15)+(12)/(15)`

`-3b+a=(-10+12)/(15)`

`-3b+a=(2)/(15)`

Final answer:

`(2)/(15)`