Question

Find the difference -3/4 - 15/16 = ? Simplify answer .break it down fully pls

Answer 1

The difference is:

`(-3)/(4) - (15)/(16) = (-27)/(16)`

Solution:

Given expression is:

`(-3)/(4) - (15)/(16)`

We have to find the difference

To find the difference, make the denominators same

Find the least common multiple of 4 and 16

List all prime factors for each number.

Prime Factorization of 4 is: 2 x 2

Prime Factorization of 16 is: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2

For each prime factor, find where it occurs most often as a factor and write it that many times in a new list.

The new superset list is

2, 2, 2, 2

Multiply these factors together to find the LCM.

LCM = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 16

Make the denominators as 16

`\rightarrow (-3)/(4) - (15)/(16) = (-3 * 4)/(4 * 4) - (15 * 1)/(16 * 1)\\\\\rightarrow (-3)/(4) - (15)/(16) = (-12)/(16) - (15)/(16)\\\\\rightarrow (-3)/(4) - (15)/(16) = (-12-15)/(16)\\\\\rightarrow (-3)/(4) - (15)/(16) = (-27)/(16)`

Thus the difference is
`(-27)/(16)`