Question

Evaluate.

[3 - 1-8-2(-3)] = (-17)
What is the value of the expression?
Enter your answer as a simplified fraction in the box.

Answer 1

9514 1404 393

Answer:

-1/6

Explanation:

A suitable calculator can evaluate this for you and show you the result as a fraction.

You start with the multiplication in the inner-most set of brackets. Here, those brackets are the absolute value function.

-2(-1/3) = +2/3

Then the sum in those brackets:

-5/6 +2/3 = -5/6 +4/6 = -1/6

The absolute value changes the sign of this back to positive, so the value in square brackets is ...

3 -(1/6) = 18/6 -1/6 = 17/6

Finally, this value is divided by -17, so you have ...

`(17)/(6)/(-17)=(17)/(6)\cdot(-1)/(17)=-(17\cdot1)/(17\cdot6)=\boxed{-(1)/(6)}`