Question

What is - ⅓ + ⅖? Please don't only say the answer but also show work!!

Answer 1

$-\frac{1}{3}\text{ + }\frac{2}{5}$

First, we must have the same bottom numbers (denominators) to add the fractions.

To do that, we can multiply the first fraction by 5 (top and bottom numbers) and the second fraction by 3.

$-\frac{1}{3\text{ }}\text{ (}\frac{5}{5})\text{ + }\frac{2}{5}\text{ (}\frac{3}{3})$$-\text{ }\frac{5}{15}+\frac{6}{15}$

Now that both denominators are equal we can add the numerators (top numbers)

$\frac{-5+6}{15}\text{ }$$\frac{1}{15}$