Steps to solve:
-1/2 + (3/4 * 4/9)
~Simplify
-1/2 + 14/36
~Simplify
-1/2 + 7/18
~Find common denominators
-9/18 + 7/18
~Add
-2/18 or -1/9
Best of Luck!
 
        
                    
             
        
        
        
We can let
   a = 1/(x-1)
   b = 1/(y+2)
and rewrite the equations as
   2a - b = 10
   a + 3b = -9
Using the first to write an expression for b, we get
   b = 2a - 10
Substituting this into the second equation gives
   a + 3(2a -10) = -9
   7a -30 = -9 . . . . . . . . simplify
   7a = 21 . . . . . . . . . . .add 30
   a = 3
   b = 2·3 - 10 = -4
Now, we can find x and y.
    3 = 1/(x -1)
    x - 1 = 1/3
    x = 1 1/3 = 4/3
    -4 = 1/(y +2)
    y +2 = -1/4
    y = -2 1/4 = -9/4
Then the desired sum is
    x + y = 4/3 -9/4 = (16 -27)/12
    x + y = -11/12
The appropriate choice is ..
   c. -11/12
        
             
        
        
        
answer: 1117
the first block is 1000
the second is 100
the third is 10
then the last few count up to 7
 
        
             
        
        
        
I believe it is going to be 60