Question

I need help! Please explain with steps how I solve -1/4 - 3/8 - 3/4 - 7/8

Answer 1

Make them have common denominators: -2/8 - 3/8 - 6/8 - 7/8 =
Now just do subtraction with numerators: -5/8 - 6/8 -7/8 = -11/8 - 7/8 = -18/8 = 
Simplify: -9/4 =
Make it a mixed fraction: -2 1/4 (D)

Answer 2

The answer is D, -2 1/4
first of all you're subtracting all the fractions so the final answer has to be negative, so A and B can be eliminated
then to subtract the fractions you can find a common denominator, in this case it would be 8, because 4 is a factor of 8
-1/4 = -2/8, and -3/4 = -6/8
given this, since the signs are all the same (all negative signs) you can just add instead of subtract, and then make the final answer negative again. (this would not work if you had some negative and some positive signs)
-2/8 - 3/8 - 6/8 - 7/8 = -18/8 = -8/8 - 8/8 - 2/8 = -2 1/4

hope this helps