SOLUTION: We are doing addition of negative fractions. The question is (-4/9)+1/2...my answer is 1/48, but I know the answer is 29/48 because I looked it up. How is it 29/48?

Algebra ->  Numeric Fractions Calculators, Lesson and Practice -> SOLUTION: We are doing addition of negative fractions. The question is (-4/9)+1/2...my answer is 1/48, but I know the answer is 29/48 because I looked it up. How is it 29/48?      Log On


   

Question 342973: We are doing addition of negative fractions. The question is (-4/9)+1/2...my answer is 1/48, but I know the answer is 29/48 because I looked it up. How is it 29/48?
Found 2 solutions by Fombitz, solver91311:
Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
First, find a common denominator, 2%2A9=18
-%284%2F9%29%2B1%2F2=-%284%2F9%29%282%2F2%29%2B%281%2F2%29%289%2F9%29
-%284%2F9%29%2B1%2F2=-%288%2F18%29%2B%289%2F18%29
-%284%2F9%29%2B1%2F2=%28-8%2B9%29%2F18%29
-%284%2F9%29%2B1%2F2=highlight%281%2F18%29

Answer by solver91311(24713) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!


Sorry, both wrong. And I know that without even doing the problem. How? Because 9 does not divide evenly into 48, and therefore 48 cannot be a common denominator and therefore the sum cannot have a denominator of 48.

In fact, the common denominator of 2 and 9 is 18. So:



Only two possibilities:

a) you looked up the answer to a different problem by mistake, or

b) the book with the answers has a misprint.


John

My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it