Question

4 times -5/8. write your answer in as a mixed number and in simplest form

Answer 1

To calculate \( 4 \times -\frac{5}{8} \), you multiply the whole number by the fraction:

\[
4 \times -\frac{5}{8} = \frac{4 \times -5}{8} = \frac{-20}{8}
\]

Now, simplify \(\frac{-20}{8}\):

To simplify, divide both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor, which is 4:

\[
\frac{-20 \div 4}{8 \div 4} = \frac{-5}{2}
\]

Now, to convert \(-\frac{5}{2}\) into a mixed number, note that \(-\frac{5}{2}\) can be represented as:

\[
-2 \frac{1}{2}
\]

Thus, in simplest form, the answer is:

\(-2 \frac{1}{2}\) or \(-\frac{5}{2}\) (as an improper fraction).