Final answer:
To subtract negative integers, you add the absolute value of the number being subtracted. Transform the mixed numbers into improper fractions, find the common denominator, and perform the subtraction. The answer is 1 1/40.
Step-by-step explanation:
The given subtraction problem is -1 4/5 -(-2 7/8). To subtract negative integers, you simply add the absolute value or the value of the second number to the first number.
- Convert the mixed numbers -1 4/5 and -2 7/8 into improper fractions. -1 4/5 becomes -9/5 and -2 7/8 becomes -23/8.
- Then, you find the common denominator for 5 and 8, which is 40.
- Next, you convert -9/5 into -72/40 and -23/8 into -115/40 by multiplying the numerator and denominator by 8 and 5 respectively.
- -9/5 -(-23/8) becomes -72/40 - (-115/40), further simplifying to -72/40 + 115/40 since subtracting a negative is the same as addition.
- So, your final answer is 43/40 which simplifies to 1 1/40 after converting it back to a mixed number.
Learn more about Subtraction