/Name: Stephanie
Who is asking: Student
Level of the question: Middle

Question: How do you simplify a fraction if one of the numbers is negative?

Ex. -32/40

 

Stephanie,

First, as you would when both are positive, factor the numerator, factor the denominator and then look for any cancellation.

-32 = -1 2 2 2 2 2
40 = 2 2 2 5

Thus  -32/40 = (-1 2 2 2 2 2) /(2 2 2 5) = (-1 2 2) /5 = -4/5

Penny