Question

5 1/3 + (-3 9/18) Simplify. Show your work.

Answer 1

Use the equivalents ...

... 1/3 = 2/6

... 9/18 = 3/6

... 1 = 6/6

First we split the mixed numbers into integer parts and fractional parts, adding each separately.

(5 1/3) + (-3 9/18) = (5 +(-3)) +(1/3 +(-9/18))

... = 2 + (2/6 - 3/6) . . . . . . use the equivalents for 1/3 and 9/18 to have a common denominator (6)

... = 2 - 1/6 . . . . . . . . . . . . the sum of the fractional parts is negative

... = (1 + 1) - 1/6 . . . . . . . . here's how we subtract it from the integer part

... = 1 + (6/6 - 1/6)

... = 1 5/6