Question

How do you simplify `6/10 + 3 3/2 - 5 1/4`?

Answer 1

`-3/20`

Explanation:

To add and subtract fractions the denominators must be the same. The lowest common denominator for `10, 2, and 4` is `20`, so we must multiply each fraction by `1` in a form that will make each denominator `20`. It is also helpful to make the mixed fractions into improper fractions:

`6/10(2/2) + 9/2(10/10) - 21/4(5/5)`

`= 12/20 + 90/20 - 105/20`

`= 102/20 - 105/20`

`= -3/20`