Question

What is -50 1/4 + -10 1/2

Answer 1

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

`\stackrel{mixed}{50(1)/(4)}\implies \cfrac{50\cdot 4+1}{4}\implies \stackrel{improper}{\cfrac{201}{4}}~\hfill \stackrel{mixed}{10(1)/(2)} \implies \cfrac{10\cdot 2+1}{2} \implies \stackrel{improper}{\cfrac{21}{2}} \\\\[-0.35em] ~\dotfill\\\\ -\cfrac{201}{4}+\left( -\cfrac{21}{2} \right)\implies -\cfrac{201}{4}-\cfrac{21}{2}\implies \cfrac{(1)(-201)~~ - ~~(2)(21)}{\underset{\textit{using this LCD}}{4}} \\\\\\ \cfrac{-201-42}{4}\implies \cfrac{-243}{4}\implies -60(3)/(4)`