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Pre-Algebra 7 Online
OpenStudy (girlgoyleh.):

does a negative denominator make the whole fraction a negative?

OpenStudy (noseboy908):

Think of these two fractions: "1/-2", & "-1/-2". Now, what do you think? Does it make it negative?

OpenStudy (girlgoyleh.):

No?

OpenStudy (noseboy908):

Well, answer me this: does the negative on the first fraction make it negative?

OpenStudy (girlgoyleh.):

I don't know.

OpenStudy (jdoe0001):

\(\bf \cfrac{a}{-b}\implies -\cfrac{a}{b}\qquad \qquad \cfrac{-a}{b}\implies -\cfrac{a}{b}\)

OpenStudy (girlgoyleh.):

Thank you both!

OpenStudy (tfht):

think about it as you owe someone $2 (so that is the negative) then they decide that they only want half of that (positive for them) so then it would look like 1/-$2 and you would still owe $1 right?

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