Expert: Sherman D. - 10/5/2007

Question
Another question:
Working with the multiplication of fractions, an example from my study book is:
-6 1/4 x 5/9 = -25/4 x 5/9 = -125/36  Up to this point I am with them and following the steps.  My question is this:
Their final answer is -3 17/36 and I am wondering how they get the negative.  If I divide a number, even if it is negative, by a positive number, doesn't that mean I am splitting the original number, -125 in this problem,  into, in this case, group each containing 36 equal portions? Wouldn't the answer be how many groups I have?  Why wouldn't that be a whole number?
Thank you.
Cindy

Answer
-125/36

lets do it like this

-(125/36)

it takes 3 36s to get to 108, which leaves 17, so that would go over 36, so this gives you -3 17/36

to do it in reverse

-(3 17/36) = -((16 * 3 + 17)/36) = -(125/36) = -125/36

other than this, i don't get your question.

-x * y = -xy
x * -y = -xy
x * y = xy
-x * -y = xy