Question

I've tried and failed numerous times at this problem so simple yet so hard. Do you know what -3/4 - 1/8 is?

Answer 1

Answer: -7/8

Step-by-step explanation:

First, find the least common denominator of 4 and 8, which is 8.

Next, adjust the fractions to get -6/8-1/8

To do this, simply multiply -3/4 by 2/2, -3×2= -6, 4×2=8

Apply the fraction rule (
`(a)/(c) -(b)/(c) =(a-b)/(c)`)

• 
  `(-6)/(8)-(1)/(8)=(-6-1)/(8)`
• -6-1=7
• 
  `(-7)/(8)` cannot be simplified

Answer 2

Answer: -7/8

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Step-by-step explanation:

Think of -3/4 - 1/8 as 3/4 + 1/8

Also, rewrite 3/4 as 6/8. This is valid since we multiplied top and bottom by 2.

So we have:

3/4 + 1/8 = 6/8 + 1/8 = (6+1)/8 = 7/8

The diagram shown below is one way to represent how 3/4 + 1/8 = 7/8. The thicker lines are there to show the pizza split into 4 equal slices, so we can help visualize 3/4. Each of the fourths is split in half to get eighths.

Feel free to use a fraction tape diagram instead of fraction pizzas if that visualization works better.

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After we determine that 3/4 + 1/8 = 7/8, we just make everything negative to get -3/4 - 1/8 = -7/8

You can think of it like we multiplied both sides by -1

3/4 + 1/8 = 7/8

-1*(3/4 + 1/8) = -1*7/8

-3/4 - 1/8 = -7/8

I used the distributive rule on the last line.