Final answer:
To create an equivalent expression for -1/2m - 4/10, simplify the fraction 4/10 to 2/5 to get -1/2m - 2/5. Since the terms are not like terms, this is the simplest form of the expression.
Step-by-step explanation:
To create an equivalent expression for -1/2m - 4/10, we need to simplify and manipulate the expression while maintaining its value. It's essential to apply the rules of algebra to ensure that any operation we perform is applied to the entire expression to keep it equivalent. Let's start by simplifying the second term by reducing the fraction 4/10:
- 4 divided by 2 is 2
- 10 divided by 2 is 5
This simplifies 4/10 to 2/5. Now the expression looks like:
-1/2m - 2/5
Next, we want to ensure the expression has a common denominator for any potential addition or subtraction. However, since the terms are not like terms (one is a variable term and the other is a constant term), we cannot combine them directly. The expression is now in its simplest form.