Question

Factor out -1/4 out of -1/2x-5/4y

Answer 1

Greetings!

$\frac{1}{2}x- \frac{5}{4}y$
Factor -1/4. How? To factor a polynomial, you divide all the terms by the GCF (The Greatest Common Multiple.)  
$=-1/4(\frac{1}{2}x/(-1/4)- \frac{5}{4}y/(-1/4))$
Simplify.
$=-1/4(\frac{1}{2}x*(-4/1)- \frac{5}{4}y*(-4/1))$
$=-1/4(\frac{-4}{2}x- \frac{-20}{4}y)$
Reduce Fractions to simplest form.
$=-1/4(-2x-(-5y))$
The Factor Polynomial Is:
$=-1/4(-2x+5y)$

Hope this helps.
-Benjamin