Question

When you get a fraction like this: 20y/40 - 57y/40, can I swap it to 57y/40 - 20y/40?

Answer 1

@kathyforver

Answer 2

@kathyforever

Answer 3

Yes no, maybe, I don't know

Answer 4

im not completely sure. i think so but i may be wrong

Answer 5

@Hero

Answer 6

@TuringTest

Answer 7

One does not simply swap the fractions whenever he or she feels like it!

Answer 8

AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRR

Answer 9

you could swap it to:
-57y/50+20y/40 though

Answer 10

What is 20y/40 - 57y/40?

Answer 11

addition is commutative, but subtraction is not.

Answer 12

@headge - Do you understand negative numbers? So, in this example it's okay for the answer to be less than zero, or rewrite it as @Agent47 has done.

Answer 13

Why is the 57y now over 50?

Answer 14

To answer your question, you need to simplify the issue. You need to put y/40 outside the brackets and the remaining numbers inside the brackets. Then you will see that 20-57 is definitely not the same value as 57-20

Answer 15

Be arsed douing that!

Answer 16

doing

Answer 17

Mark you look like billy corgan. So I will write the question out in full

Answer 18

Now *that's* an excellent example there @MarkRijckenberg

@headge - I'd be careful about how I interact with the people who are helping you, ok? Now, what part of this problem don't you understand? Did Mark's example help?

Answer 19

Y/2 - 5y/8 + 4y/5 = 20y/40 - 25y/40 + 32y/40 = 20y/40 - 57y/40 Then I got stuck. What do you mean? What have I said that is rude?

Answer 20

Hmm, so now I'm confused. Are you supposed to solve for y in this problem?

In terms of your original question, are you able to do that part? 20 - 57 = ?

Answer 21

Write is as a single fraction

Answer 22

And I've not been rude to Mark

Answer 23

Ok, understood.

So, are you able to subtract 20y from 57y? An easier way to think of it is by adding a negative, as @Agent47 did.

So, -57 + 20 = ? (this answer will be a negative number FYI)

Answer 24

So it could be 37y/40?

Answer 25

-

Answer 26

-37y/40?

Answer 27

There she goes, there she goes again. She calls my name!

Answer 28

D:

Answer 29

@MarkRijckenberg

Answer 30

Hehe, sorry, connection issues.

But yes, you got it! It's -37y/40 :)

Answer 31

I didn't know you were able to get a -y thing!

Answer 32

Alright I'll give you best response

Answer 33

I disagree: Y/2 - 5y/8 + 4y/5 = 20y/40 - 25y/40 + 32y/40 = -5y/40 + 32y/40 = 27y/40