Question

What is -2 1/4 - -3 7/8 equal to

Answer 1

let's firstly convert the mixed fractions to improper fractions and then subtract.

`\stackrel{mixed}{2(1)/(4)}\implies \cfrac{2\cdot 4+1}{4}\implies \stackrel{improper}{\cfrac{9}{4}}~\hfill \stackrel{mixed}{3(7)/(8)} \implies \cfrac{3\cdot 8+7}{8} \implies \stackrel{improper}{\cfrac{31}{8}} \\\\[-0.35em] ~\dotfill\\\\ \left( -\cfrac{9}{4} \right)-\left(-\cfrac{31}{8} \right)\implies -\cfrac{9}{4}+\cfrac{31}{8}\implies \cfrac{(2)(-9)~~ + ~~(1)(31)}{\underset{\textit{using this LCD}}{8}} \\\\\\ \cfrac{-18+31}{8}\implies \cfrac{13}{8}\implies 1(5)/(8)`