Solve: Adding (-1/8) and (-6/8) - Negative Fraction Addition

Q: Why don't I need to find a common denominator here?

Great observation! Both fractions already have the same denominator (8), so you can add the numerators directly. You only need to find a common denominator when the denominators are different.

Q: How do I add two negative numbers?

When adding two negative numbers, add their absolute values and keep the negative sign. So -1 + (-6) becomes -(1 + 6) = -7. Think of it as combining debts!

Q: Do I need to simplify the answer?

In this case, $ -\frac{7}{8} $ is already in simplest form because 7 and 8 share no common factors other than 1. Always check if your fraction can be reduced!

Q: What if I got a positive answer instead?

Check your work! A positive answer means you likely forgot the negative signs. Remember: negative + negative = negative. Go back and carefully track those minus signs.

Negative Fraction Addition with Common Denominators

$(-\frac{1}{8})+(-\frac{6}{8})=$

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:00 Solve

00:03 Find the point on the axis

00:06 Positive times negative always equals negative, therefore subtract

00:09 To subtract, move to the left (negative) on the axis

00:17 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

$(-\frac{1}{8})+(-\frac{6}{8})=$

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

Step 1: Add the numerators of the fractions.
Step 2: Keep the common denominator for the result.
Step 3: Simplify if necessary and confirm with answer choices.

Let's work through the solution step-by-step:

Step 1: Add the numerators.

The expression is $-\frac{1}{8} + -\frac{6}{8}$ .

The numerators are $-1$ and $-6$ . Adding these gives:

$-1 + (-6) = -1 - 6 = -7$ .

Step 2: Write the result over the common denominator.

Since the denominator is $8$ , the fraction becomes $-\frac{7}{8}$ .

Step 3: Verify and finalize the result.

The result $-\frac{7}{8}$ matches one of the multiple-choice options.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is $-\frac{7}{8}$ .

Final Answer

$-\frac{7}{8}$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Add numerators directly when denominators are the same
Technique: Keep negative signs: -1 + (-6) = -7
Check: Verify $-\frac{7}{8}$ matches the answer choices ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Forgetting to keep negative signs when adding
Don't add -1 and -6 to get positive 7! This ignores the negative signs and gives $\frac{7}{8}$ instead of the correct $-\frac{7}{8}$ . Always preserve negative signs when adding: -1 + (-6) = -7.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

a is negative number.

b is negative number.

What is the sum of a+b?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why don't I need to find a common denominator here?

Great observation! Both fractions already have the same denominator (8), so you can add the numerators directly. You only need to find a common denominator when the denominators are different.

How do I add two negative numbers?

When adding two negative numbers, add their absolute values and keep the negative sign. So -1 + (-6) becomes -(1 + 6) = -7. Think of it as combining debts!

Why is the answer negative?

Both fractions are negative, so their sum must be negative too! When you add two negative quantities, you get a larger negative quantity. $-\frac{1}{8}$ + $-\frac{6}{8}$ = $-\frac{7}{8}$

Do I need to simplify the answer?

In this case, $-\frac{7}{8}$ is already in simplest form because 7 and 8 share no common factors other than 1. Always check if your fraction can be reduced!

What if I got a positive answer instead?

Check your work! A positive answer means you likely forgot the negative signs. Remember: negative + negative = negative. Go back and carefully track those minus signs.

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