Question

Find the sum -3/5+4/9 Answer with supporting work

Answer 1

The correct answer is 1.044

Answer 2

Ok so to find the answer to this you have to make both fractions have the same denominator. 

To find the LCD (Least common denominator) follow these steps:

*Think: what number can be divided by both 9 and 5?

The answer is: 45 (shortcut way is to multiply both denominators by each other ie: 9 x 5)

Now make the numerators match:

For -3/5, the denominator (5) is multiplied by 9 to get 45, so the numerator (-3) has to also be multiplied by 9. 

You get: -27/45

For 4/9, the denominator (9) is multiplied by 5 to get 45, so the numerator (4) has to also be multiplied by 5.

You get: 20/45

Now the problem looks like this:

-27/45 + 20/45

**Be sure to remember there is a negative sign!

Now we just add the numerators:

-27 + 20 = -7

(If you have trouble doing that remember that you can just subtract the positive number from the negative ie: 27-20 and then just re-add the negative sign)

Then just re-add the denominator:

-7/45

This cannot be simplified so this is the final answer!