Question

Simplify -2 3/5 - 6 2/7

Answer 1

let's firstly convert the mixed fractions to improper fractions.

`\stackrel{mixed}{2(3)/(5)}\implies \cfrac{2\cdot 5+3}{5}\implies \stackrel{improper}{\cfrac{13}{5}}~\hfill \stackrel{mixed}{6(2)/(7)} \implies \cfrac{6\cdot 7+2}{7} \implies \stackrel{improper}{\cfrac{44}{7}} \\\\[-0.35em] ~\dotfill\\\\ -\cfrac{13}{5}-\cfrac{44}{7}\implies \cfrac{(7)(-13)~~ - ~~(5)(44)}{\underset{\textit{using this LCD}}{35}}\implies \cfrac{-91~~ - ~~220}{35} \\\\\\ \cfrac{-311}{35}\implies {\Large \begin{array}{llll} -8(31)/(35) \end{array}}`