Question

Explain how to solve the following problem in paragraph form.

7 5/6 - (-4 1/7)

Answer 1

Convert to a mixed number:
503/42
Divide 503 by 42:
4 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3
42 goes into 50 at most one time:
| | | 1 | |
4 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| - | 4 | 2 | |
| | | 8 | 3 |
42 goes into 83 at most one time:
| | | 1 | 1 |
4 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| - | 4 | 2 | |
| | | 8 | 3 |
| | - | 4 | 2 |
| | | 4 | 1 |
The quotient of 503/42 is 11 with remainder 41, so:
Answer: 11 41/42

Answer 2

So when you subtract by a negative number, it is the same thing as adding the two numbers.
First find a the LCD, or the least common denominator.
LCM(7,6) = 7•6 = 42

Then make the fractions have 42 as a denominator.
7 5/6 • 7/7 = 7 35/42
4 1/7 • 6/6 = 4 6/42

Finally, add the two mixed numbers
7 35/42
+4 6/42
11 41/42

So 11 41/42 is your answer