Final Answer:
The simplified form of the expression 5/8 - 18 - 22 is -39 3/8.
Step-by-step explanation:
To simplify the given expression, we need to perform the arithmetic operations in the correct order. First, we subtract 18 from 5/8, and then subtract 22 from the result.
Starting with 5/8, we can rewrite it as a mixed number by dividing 5 by 8. The result is 0 with a remainder of 5, so we have 5/8 = 0 5/8.
Subtracting 18 from 0 5/8, we need to borrow 1 from the whole number and convert 1 to 8/8. Now we have 0 13/8 - 18.
Next, we need to simplify the subtraction of 13/8 and 18. To do this, we find a common denominator for 8 and 1 (the denominator of 18). The common denominator is 8, so 1 is equivalent to 8/8. Now we can subtract: 13/8 - 18/1 = 13/8 - 144/8 = -131/8.
Finally, we subtract 22 from the result of -131/8. Again, we find a common denominator for 8 and 1 (the denominator of 22), which is 8. So we have: -131/8 - 176/8 = -307/8 = -38 7/8.
Therefore, the simplified form of the expression 5/8 - 18 - 22 is -39 3/8.