Mathematical question? ?

Question

How do I change a negative improper fraction like this

-3 4/9

Answer 1

first of all reword the mixed number like this:

-3 + 4/9

Then convert -3 to a number over 9

Thus you multiply 9 to both sides and get

=-27/9 + 4/9

=-23/9 = answer  

Answer 2

I assume you want to turn this mixed fraction into an improper fraction.  You do it the same as a positive fraction, but just keep the negative sign in front.  The simplest way is to ignore the negative sign until you are done.

For a positive number:

3 4/9

3 times 9 = 27

27 + 4 = 31

31/9

Same thing for a negative

-3 4/9

3 times 9 = 27

27 + 4 = 31

-31/9

Answer:

-31/9

P.S.  Don't confuse this with -3 + 4/9 or else you'll get the wrong result (see other answer).  It's really equivalent to the following:

-(3 + 4/9).

That's why you can do it as if it were positive and then add the negative sign at the end.