Solve (2/4-1)-(2-1/8)

$$( \frac { 2 } { 4 } - 1 ) - ( 2 - \frac { 1 } { 8 } )$$

Evaluate

$$-\frac{19}{8}=-2.375$$

Solution Steps

Reduce the fraction \frac{2}{4} to lowest terms by extracting and canceling out 2.

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

Convert 1 to fraction \frac{2}{2}.

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

Since \frac{1}{2} and \frac{2}{2} have the same denominator, subtract them by subtracting their numerators.

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

Subtract 2 from 1 to get -1.

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

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

$$-\frac{1}{2}-\left(\frac{16}{8}-\frac{1}{8}\right)$$

Since \frac{16}{8} and \frac{1}{8} have the same denominator, subtract them by subtracting their numerators.

$$-\frac{1}{2}-\frac{16-1}{8}$$

Subtract 1 from 16 to get 15.

$$-\frac{1}{2}-\frac{15}{8}$$

Least common multiple of 2 and 8 is 8. Convert -\frac{1}{2} and \frac{15}{8} to fractions with denominator 8.

$$-\frac{4}{8}-\frac{15}{8}$$

Since -\frac{4}{8} and \frac{15}{8} have the same denominator, subtract them by subtracting their numerators.

$$\frac{-4-15}{8}$$

Subtract 15 from -4 to get -19.

$$-\frac{19}{8}$$

Factor

$$-\frac{19}{8} = -2\frac{3}{8} = -2.375$$