document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=125734>Question 125734</A>This question is from textbook <A HREF=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/9780071439312/algebrahomeworkh>pre-algebra DeMystified</A><BR>\n" );
document.write( ": <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> pre-algebra operations with positive and negative fractions. multiply.  -3/4x2/5-1/8.  in working the problem i did the multiplication first. -3/4x2/5 to get -3/2x1/5 then -3times1=-3 then two times five = 10 for an answer of -3/10-1/8=3/80. wrong answer. the book states -17/40 as the answer. I worked the problem again and got 7/40. this is as close as i can get to -17/40. why is this a negative number and how is the answer 17/40 and not 7/40? please help !!! thanks     stumped..... </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #92143 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=applesrbest><B>applesrbest(7)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-05.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=applesrbest><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=92143\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> The first part of your working is correct, until -3/10-1/8.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "-3/10-1/8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "= -12/40-5/40 (both numerator & denominator is multiplied by 4 for -3/10 and 5 for -1/8)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "= -17/40 (there is still a minus sign in front of 12/40 so another way to see it is 0-12/40-5/40=-17/40 and not just 12/40-5/40=7/40)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "=) hope this answers your query. </SPAN>\n" );
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