Question

How do you evaluate `(- \frac { 13} { 7} ) + ( - \frac { 3} { 5} )`?

Answer 1

Find like denominators, add numerators, simplify if possible.

Explanation:

To add fractions with different denominators, you must change all the fractions of interest into a fraction with like denominators. Simplify afterwards.

`(-13/7) + (-3/5)`

The lowest common denominator is `35`. Remember that whole numbers are simply a number with a denominator of `1`.

`=5(-13/7) + 7(-3/5)`

`=(-65/35) + (-21/35)`

Now with like denominators, we can add the numerators.

`=(-86/35)`

If possible, simplify; `86` does not go into `35` equally so we will leave the answer as an exact answer.

Hope this helps :)