Multiply 4 by −5/8 . Write the answer as a mixed number in simplest form.

1 answer

To multiply \( 4 \) by \( -\frac{5}{8} \), you can first express \( 4 \) as a fraction:

\[ 4 = \frac{4}{1} \]

Now, multiply the two fractions:

\[ \frac{4}{1} \times -\frac{5}{8} = \frac{4 \times -5}{1 \times 8} = \frac{-20}{8} \]

Next, simplify the fraction \( \frac{-20}{8} \):

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

Now, to convert \( \frac{-5}{2} \) into a mixed number, we can express it as:

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

Thus, the final answer as a mixed number in simplest form is:

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