Final answer:
To sum up (-2 7/8) + (-1 1/2), convert both mixed numbers to improper fractions, find a common denominator, add the numerators, and simplify. The result is -4 3/8.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate (-2 7/8) + (-1 1/2), first convert each mixed number to an improper fraction.
For -2 7/8, you multiply 2 by 8, which equals 16, add 7 to get 23, and then apply the negative sign, so it becomes -23/8.
For -1 1/2, you multiply 1 by 2, which equals 2, add 1 to get 3, and then apply the negative sign, so it becomes -3/2.
The next step is to find a common denominator, which for 8 and 2 is 8.
Convert -3/2 to -12/8 to have the same denominator. Now you have -23/8 and -12/8.
Add the numerators: -23 - 12 equals -35.
Keep the common denominator of 8, so the answer as an improper fraction is -35/8.
To convert back to a mixed number, divide 35 by 8 to get 4 with a remainder of 3, so the answer is -4 3/8.