Solve 1/5-(1/2)^2+(-15)

$$\frac { 1 } { 5 } - ( \frac { 1 } { 2 } ) ^ { 2 } + ( - 15 )$$

Evaluate

$$-\frac{301}{20}=-15.05$$

Solution Steps

Calculate \frac{1}{2} to the power of 2 and get \frac{1}{4}.

$$\frac{1}{5}-\frac{1}{4}-15$$

Least common multiple of 5 and 4 is 20. Convert \frac{1}{5} and \frac{1}{4} to fractions with denominator 20.

$$\frac{4}{20}-\frac{5}{20}-15$$

Since \frac{4}{20} and \frac{5}{20} have the same denominator, subtract them by subtracting their numerators.

$$\frac{4-5}{20}-15$$

Subtract 5 from 4 to get -1.

$$-\frac{1}{20}-15$$

Convert 15 to fraction \frac{300}{20}.

$$-\frac{1}{20}-\frac{300}{20}$$

Since -\frac{1}{20} and \frac{300}{20} have the same denominator, subtract them by subtracting their numerators.

$$\frac{-1-300}{20}$$

Subtract 300 from -1 to get -301.

$$-\frac{301}{20}$$

Factor

$$-\frac{301}{20} = -15\frac{1}{20} = -15.05$$