Question

What is the difference?
-3 2/3 - (-2 1/4)

Answer 1

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

`\stackrel{mixed}{3(2)/(3)}\implies \cfrac{3\cdot 3+2}{3}\implies \stackrel{improper}{\cfrac{11}{3}}~\hfill \stackrel{mixed}{2(1)/(4)} \implies \cfrac{2\cdot 4+1}{4} \implies \stackrel{improper}{\cfrac{9}{4}} \\\\[-0.35em] ~\dotfill\\\\ -\cfrac{11}{3}-\left( \cfrac{9}{4} \right)\implies -\cfrac{11}{3}+\cfrac{9}{4}\implies \cfrac{-(4)11~~ + ~~(3)9}{\underset{\textit{using this LCD}}{12}} \\\\\\ \cfrac{-44+27}{12}\implies \cfrac{-17}{12}\implies {\Large \begin{array}{llll} -1(5)/(12) \end{array}}`