Question

Rational numbers

-1/2+[(-4/3)+3/7]and[(-1/2)+3/7]+(-4/3)are the same(the numbers are in fractions

Answer 1

Hi ,

1 ) -1/2 + [ ( -4/3 ) + 3/7 )


= -1/2 + [ ( -28 + 9 )/21 ]

= -1/2 + ( - 19 /21 )

= -1/2 - 19/21

= ( - 21 - 38 )/42

= -59/42 ------( 1 )

2 ) [ ( -1/2 ) + 3/7 ] + ( - 4/3 )

= [ ( -7 + 6 )/14 ] - 4/3

= -1/14 - 4/3

= ( -3 - 56 )/42

= - 59/42 ---( 2 )

From ( 1 ) and ( 2 ) , we conclude that

( -1/2 ) + [ (-4/3) + 3/7 ] = [ ( -1/2 ) + 3/7 ] + ( -4/3 )

a + ( b + c ) = ( a + b ) + c

associative under addition .

I hope this helps you.

: )