what should be added to 26/15 to get 2/21
Answers
Answer:
ASK
MATH
Marco M.
asked • 09/12/17
What number should be added to −26 to get a sum of 22?
What number should be added to −26 to get a sum of 22?
Follow3
Add comment
More
2 Answers By Expert Tutors
By:Best
Newest Oldest

Alec B. answered • 09/12/17
TUTOR
5 (3)
Masters Level Physicist with Enthusiasm to Teach Math and Physics!
SEE TUTORS LIKE THIS
When dealing with addition and subtraction that incorporates negative numbers, I have found it is helpful in situations like this to consider a "tipping point" between positive and negative numbers which is right at ZERO.
For instance, you are looking for a number (let's give it the name "x") to add to -26 in order to get a sum equal to 22. The equation would look like this: (-26 + x = 22)
One way to think about this is how far it takes (or what you must add) to get TO zero FROM -26, then how much further you would need to go in order to reach 22 from zero. Thinking of it this way would mean you have to add 26 to -26 to reach zero, then you have to add 22 more in order to reach 22 from zero. In short, you would need to add 26 + 22 = 48 to go from -26 to 22. The solution would be 48.
If that is not entirely clear, you can find the same solution by isolating the number you are looking for (x in the equation above) by adding 26 to both sides of the equation: (-26 + x + 26 = 22 +26). You will end up with: 0 + x = 22 +26, which is the same as: x = 22 + 26 = 48. The same solution as above.
Fundamentally these are two ways of saying the exact same thing, but hopefully one of these approaches works for you in a way that helps you understand how to solve these sorts of questions!
Step-by-step explanation:
let the number be x
so,
26/15 + x = 2/21
x= 2/21 - 26/15
x= 10 - 182 / 105
x= -172/105 = -1 whole 67 /105