Multiply −2 1/2 by −135 . Write the answer as a decimal.

Answer 1

To multiply \(-2 \frac{1}{2}\) by \(-135\), we first convert \(-2 \frac{1}{2}\) to an improper fraction.

1. Convert \(-2 \frac{1}{2}\): \[ -2 \frac{1}{2} = -\left(2 \times 2 + 1\right)/2 = -\frac{5}{2} \]

2. Now multiply \(-\frac{5}{2}\) by \(-135\): \[ -\frac{5}{2} \times -135 = \frac{5 \times 135}{2} \]

3. Calculate \(5 \times 135\): \[ 5 \times 135 = 675 \]

4. Now substitute back: \[ \frac{675}{2} \]

5. Divide \(675\) by \(2\): \[ 675 \div 2 = 337.5 \]

Thus, \(-2 \frac{1}{2} \times -135\) as a decimal is \(\boxed{337.5}\).