Add.
$\frac{-1}{4}+\frac{-1}{4}=$
Answer (1)
Add the numerators since the denominators are the same: 4 − 1 + 4 − 1 = 4 − 1 + ( − 1 ) .
Simplify the numerator: 4 − 2 .
Simplify the fraction by dividing both numerator and denominator by 2: 4 − 2 = 2 − 1 .
The final answer is 2 − 1 .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are asked to add two fractions: 4 − 1 and 4 − 1 . Both fractions have the same denominator, which is 4. This makes the addition straightforward.
Adding the Numerators Since the fractions have the same denominator, we can add the numerators directly and keep the denominator the same: 4 − 1 + 4 − 1 = 4 − 1 + ( − 1 )
Simplifying the Numerator Now, we simplify the numerator: − 1 + ( − 1 ) = − 2 So, the fraction becomes: 4 − 2
Simplifying the Fraction Finally, we simplify the fraction by dividing both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor, which is 2: 4 − 2 = 4 ÷ 2 − 2 ÷ 2 = 2 − 1
Final Answer Therefore, the sum of 4 − 1 and 4 − 1 is 2 − 1 .
Examples
Fractions are used in everyday life, such as when splitting a pizza or measuring ingredients for a recipe. For example, if you eat 1/4 of a pizza and your friend eats another 1/4, you've eaten a total of 1/2 of the pizza. Understanding how to add fractions is essential for these types of calculations.
