Fractions. Help sought please.

[compo]

If you subtract 3 from 2 you end up with -1. If you subtract 3/4 from 1/2 do you end up with -1/4? Can you have minus quantities in fractions or is there a different way to express it.

Sorry if this is a seemingly daft question but I really don't know the answer and can't find it online.

 

[Longshot]

Yes, you can have minus fractions

 

[compo]

Yes, you can have minus fractions

Thanks a lot. I have so far to go if I am ever going to get a GCSE!

 

[RedRider]

Aye, your maths is sound. Your example usually written as -0.25

 

[srw]

can't find it online.

Yes you can - just type the calculation into a google box.

 

[the_mikey]

Yes, it's perfectly possible.

In your case you have 1/2 - 3/4

This can also be represented as: 2/4 - 3/4 = -1/4

And also represented as 0.5 - 0.75 = -0.25

And also: 0.5/1 - 0.75/1 = -0.25/1

 

[compo]

For those who don't know, my maths are poor. My formal education ended when I was about 13 years old and I never did maths anyway at my school. I have recently enrolled on a GCSE course just for the challenge of it, but I have so far to go it's frightening!

 

[vernon]

If you subtract 3 from 2 you end up with -1. If you subtract 3/4 from 1/2 do you end up with -1/4? Can you have minus quantities in fractions or is there a different way to express it.

Sorry if this is a seemingly daft question but I really don't know the answer and can't find it online.

You do know the answer. You just don't know that you know the answer. Have faith in yourself. If you follow the rules the answers look after themselves.

 

[Archie_tect]

Go Compo... what a great thing to do.

 

[Kies]

For those who don't know, my maths are poor. My formal education ended when I was about 13 years old and I never did maths anyway at my school. I have recently enrolled on a GCSE course just for the challenge of it, but I have so far to go it's frightening!

Much respect Compo - you will do just fine matey

 

[Puddles]

Well done! Mr P is currently learning all times tables above 5 as he never learned as it was not noticed he needed an operation to allow him to hear properly until he was 8 and he just never caught up

 

[alicat]

Well done, Compo!

I had to do some numerical reasoning tests for a job application recently. It was a scary moment when I did some practice tests without a calculator.

 

[Arch]

Nice one Compo, good luck. Although it sounds like you do know the stuff, you just need to learn how to pass the exam.

 

[ayceejay]

Just remember that, although theoretically, it can be done in reality it can't. If you have 1/2 an apple in your hand and you cut 3/4 of an apple off it this equals a trip to the hospital! Apart from that good on ya for accepting that you don't know but have the courage to find out.

 

[slowmotion]

For those who don't know, my maths are poor. My formal education ended when I was about 13 years old and I never did maths anyway at my school. I have recently enrolled on a GCSE course just for the challenge of it, but I have so far to go it's frightening!

The difference is that you want to learn. That's nearly 100% of the problem solved. Great stuff. Well done for starting.