Solve 2/5[-4+12-(-21/2)]

$$\frac { 2 } { 5 } [ - 4 + 12 - ( - 2 \frac { 1 } { 2 } ) ]$$

Evaluate

$$\frac{21}{5}=4.2$$

Solution Steps

Add -4 and 12 to get 8.

$$\frac{2}{5}\left(8-\left(-\frac{2\times 2+1}{2}\right)\right)$$

Multiply 2 and 2 to get 4.

$$\frac{2}{5}\left(8-\left(-\frac{4+1}{2}\right)\right)$$

Add 4 and 1 to get 5.

$$\frac{2}{5}\left(8-\left(-\frac{5}{2}\right)\right)$$

The opposite of -\frac{5}{2} is \frac{5}{2}.

$$\frac{2}{5}\left(8+\frac{5}{2}\right)$$

Convert 8 to fraction \frac{16}{2}.

$$\frac{2}{5}\left(\frac{16}{2}+\frac{5}{2}\right)$$

Since \frac{16}{2} and \frac{5}{2} have the same denominator, add them by adding their numerators.

$$\frac{2}{5}\times \frac{16+5}{2}$$

Add 16 and 5 to get 21.

$$\frac{2}{5}\times \frac{21}{2}$$

Multiply \frac{2}{5} times \frac{21}{2} by multiplying numerator times numerator and denominator times denominator.

$$\frac{2\times 21}{5\times 2}$$

Cancel out 2 in both numerator and denominator.

$$\frac{21}{5}$$

Factor

$$\frac{3 \cdot 7}{5} = 4\frac{1}{5} = 4.2$$