Question

simplify -3 1/9 - (-8 1/3)

Answer 1

Hint:

\(a \dfrac{b}{c} = a + \dfrac{b}{c}\) which means you can write the given expression as
\(-3 + \dfrac{1}{9} - \left(-8 + \dfrac{1}{3}\right)\)

The next step would be to distribute the negative across the parentheses to get
\(-3 + \dfrac{1}{9} + 8 - \dfrac{1}{3}\)

Afterwards you group like terms together:
\((8 - 3) + \left(\dfrac{1}{9} - \dfrac{1}{3}\right)\)

Then you finish simplifying from there.

Answer 2

@caira12 can you finish from here?

Answer 3

i think so

Answer 4

so the final answer would be 5 2/9

Answer 5

Actually, you should do this one step at a time.

\((8 - 3) + \left(\dfrac{1}{9} - \dfrac{1}{3}\right)\)

What is the fraction equivalent to 1/3 that gives it the same denominator as 1/9?

Answer 6

Sorry you left so fast IDK why but I was trying to show you how to get the correct answer. You were on the right track. You just made a sign mistake.

\((8 - 3) + \left(\dfrac{1}{9} - \dfrac{1}{3}\right)\)
\(=5 + \left(\dfrac{1}{9} - \dfrac{3}{9}\right)\)
\(=5 - \dfrac{2}{9}\)
\(=-\left(5 + \dfrac{2}{9}\right)\)
\(=-5\dfrac{2}{9}\)

In other words, the resulting fraction is negative, not positive.