Solve {left(2/5right)}^2-1/4

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

Evaluate

$$-\frac{9}{100}=-0.09$$

Solution Steps

Calculate \frac{2}{5} to the power of 2 and get \frac{4}{25}.

$$\frac{4}{25}-\frac{1}{4}$$

Least common multiple of 25 and 4 is 100. Convert \frac{4}{25} and \frac{1}{4} to fractions with denominator 100.

$$\frac{16}{100}-\frac{25}{100}$$

Since \frac{16}{100} and \frac{25}{100} have the same denominator, subtract them by subtracting their numerators.

$$\frac{16-25}{100}$$

Subtract 25 from 16 to get -9.

$$-\frac{9}{100}$$

Factor

$$-\frac{9}{100} = -0.09$$