Question 264816
I read this to be:


(1/4) * (-2/3) + (1/2)


first multiply the 2 fractions together to get:


(-2/12) + (1/2)


since -2/12 reduces to -1/6, then simplify this equation to get:


(-1/6) + (1/2)


since 2 goes into 6 3 times, then multiply your second fraction by 3/3 to get:


(-1/6) + (3/6)


combine terms under the common denominator to get:


(-1+3)/6)


simplify to get:


2/6


simply further to get:


1/3


your fraction should simplify to 1/3


a simpler way might be:


original equation is:


(1/4) * (-2/3) + (1/2)


multiply first 2 terms to get:


(-2/12) + (1/2)


multiply second term by 6/6 to get:


(-2/12) + (6/12)


combine under common denominator to get:


(-2+6)/12


simplify to get:


4/12


divide numerator and denominator by 4 to get:


1/3


either way works.