Question

Solve the problem: -4/9 -8/9

Answer 1

Answer:

$\frac{-4}{3}$

Step-by-step explanation:

When subtracting fractions with the same denominator (bottom number[s]) you can treat the numerators (top number[s]) like subtraction with whole numbers.

$-4-8$ is equal to -12. Therefore,$\frac{-4}{9} - \frac{8}{9}$ will equal $\frac{-12}{9}$. But we're not there yet - this fraction can be simplified. We need to find the GCF, or greatest common factor, of -12 and 9. This would be another number that can be divided evenly into these two numbers. The first possible GCF that comes to mind is 3. Let's test that out:

$-12/3 = -4$

$9/3 = 3$

It works! Now we can use this information to simplify the fraction. We replace -12 with -4 and replace 9 with 3. This gives us our final answer, $\frac{-4}{3}$.