PROBLEM #1:
As the problem is, we are adding a negative. I can change this to be a subtraction problem. It looks like this:
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To be able to add or subtract fractions/mixed numbers, we have to first get common denominators. A common denominator is a shared multiple between two numbers. So, we need to find the smallest number that both 3 and 5 (the denominators of each fraction) can do into evenly. In this case, that number is 15! To transform the fractions to have common denominators, we will multiply 1/3 by 5/5 and 1/5 by 3/3 (multiply the top and bottom by 5 or 3 so that the denominator is 15). Here is our new problem:
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All that's left to do now is subtract! Since our first fraction is larger (this is important!) we don't need to do any borrowing. So, we'll subtract 2 - 1 = 1, and 5/15 - 3/15 = 2/15. Therefore, if we put those pieces back together, we get 1 2/15 (
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PROBLEM #2:
For this problem, we have two negative mixed numbers. In this case, we will simply be adding the negative numbers because both are negative. For example, -2 + -4 = -6. Here is the rewritten problem:
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Our first step is to get common denominators. In this case, that common denominator will be 6:
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Now, we have to add! -3 + -5 = -8, -3/6 + -2/6 = -5/6. Once we've added the parts, we can put them back together to form the answer: -8 5/6 (
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Hope this helps!! :)