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How to Calculate Negative Numbers in Fractions

A fraction is made up of a top number known as a numerator and a bottom number that is called a denominator. The numerator represents a part of a whole unit, and the denominator represents that whole unit. Sometimes you may run into fractions with negative signs in the numerator, denominator or both. Follow there simple rules when dealing with these types of fractions.

Instructions

    • 1

      Change a fraction with a negative numerator and a negative denominator to a positive fraction by eliminating both negative signs. For example, if you see a fraction such as -2/-3, simply rewrite it as 2/3.

    • 2

      Consider a fraction with one negative sign as a negative fraction. The negative sign can be to the left of the entire fraction or to the left of the denominator.

    • 3

      Add a negative fraction and a positive fraction with like denominators by subtracting the smaller numerator from the larger one and attaching the sign of the larger numerator. For example, -2/5 + 3/5 would equal 1/5. Another example would be the addition of -2/5 and 1/5, the sum of which would be -1/5.

    • 4

      Add two negative fractions with like denominators by adding the numerators and attaching a negative sign. For example, -3/11 plus -4/11 would equal -7/11.

    • 5

      Subtract negative fractions with like denominators by changing the sign of the second numerator and adding the two numerators together. For example, consider the problem

      -5/9 - 2/9. Rewrite the problem as -5/9 + -2/9, which would equal -7/9.

    • 6

      Multiply the numerators times each other and the denominators times each other in a multiplication sentence involving fractions. If you multiply two negative fractions, the answer will be positive. If you have one negative and one positive, the answer will be negative. For instance, -1/3 times -6/7 equals 6/21. In contrast, 1/3 times -6/7 equals -6/21.

    • 7

      Divide negative fractions by reversing the numerator and denominator of the second fraction to create a reciprocal. Then multiply the fractions. Add a negative sign if only one fraction is negative. For example, consider the problem 3/5 / -2/3. Change this to 3/5 x -3/2. Multiply to get -9/10. If the original fractions had both been negative in this example, the answer would've been 9/10.

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