The water level of a river is below normal levels. Its water level is at -1 1/2

Question

meters below sea level. During the summer, the river drops another -2 1/3
meters below sea level. What is the water level at the end of summer? Remember, the elevation is below sea level. Account for this in your answer.

Answer 1

To find the water level at the end of summer, we need to calculate the total drop in the river's water level.

The initial water level of the river is -1 1/2 meters below sea level.
The water level drops further during summer by -2 1/3 meters below sea level.

To add these two drops together, we need to find a common denominator.

The fraction -1 1/2 is equal to -3/2.
The fraction -2 1/3 is equal to -7/3.

To find a common denominator, we need to find the least common multiple (LCM) of 2 and 3, which is 6.

Multiplying the numerator and denominator of -3/2 by 3, we get -9/6.
Multiplying the numerator and denominator of -7/3 by 2, we get -14/6.

Now, we can add the two fractions:
-9/6 + -14/6 = -23/6.

So, the total drop in the river's water level during the summer is -23/6 meters below sea level.

To convert this fraction to a mixed number, we can divide the numerator (-23) by the denominator (6):
-23 ÷ 6 = -3 remainder 5.

The mixed number equivalent of -23/6 is -3 5/6.

Therefore, the water level at the end of the summer is -3 5/6 meters below sea level.