Solve (3/5)3/8-[7/5+3/8)]

$$( \frac { 3 } { 5 } ) \frac { 3 } { 8 } - [ \frac { 7 } { 5 } + \frac { 3 } { 8 } ) ]$$

Evaluate

$$-\frac{31}{20}=-1.55$$

Solution Steps

Multiply \frac{3}{5} times \frac{3}{8} by multiplying numerator times numerator and denominator times denominator.

$$\frac{3\times 3}{5\times 8}-\left(\frac{7}{5}+\frac{3}{8}\right)$$

Do the multiplications in the fraction \frac{3\times 3}{5\times 8}.

$$\frac{9}{40}-\left(\frac{7}{5}+\frac{3}{8}\right)$$

Least common multiple of 5 and 8 is 40. Convert \frac{7}{5} and \frac{3}{8} to fractions with denominator 40.

$$\frac{9}{40}-\left(\frac{56}{40}+\frac{15}{40}\right)$$

Since \frac{56}{40} and \frac{15}{40} have the same denominator, add them by adding their numerators.

$$\frac{9}{40}-\frac{56+15}{40}$$

Add 56 and 15 to get 71.

$$\frac{9}{40}-\frac{71}{40}$$

Since \frac{9}{40} and \frac{71}{40} have the same denominator, subtract them by subtracting their numerators.

$$\frac{9-71}{40}$$

Subtract 71 from 9 to get -62.

$$\frac{-62}{40}$$

Reduce the fraction \frac{-62}{40} to lowest terms by extracting and canceling out 2.

$$-\frac{31}{20}$$

Factor

$$-\frac{31}{20} = -1\frac{11}{20} = -1.55$$