Chapter 0.5, Problem 22E

To determine

The simplified value of the expression $-\frac{3}{5}\cdot \frac{5}{6}$ .

Answer to Problem 22E

The simplified value of the expression $-\frac{3}{5}\cdot \frac{5}{6}$ is $-\frac{1}{2}$ .

Explanation of Solution

Given information:

The expression $-\frac{3}{5}\cdot \frac{5}{6}$ .

Formula used:

Product of two real numbers is obtained when they are multiplied together. That is two or more numbers are separated by multiplication signs $\left(\right),\times \text{ or }\cdot$ .

Product of a negative and a positive integer is always negative.

Calculation:

Consider the expression $-\frac{3}{5}\cdot \frac{5}{6}$ .

6 can be written as the product of 3 and 2.

So, it can be simplified as,

  $-\frac{3}{5}\cdot \frac{5}{6}=-\frac{3\cdot 5}{5\cdot 3\cdot 2}$

Striking off the common terms, we get,

  $-\frac{3}{5}\cdot \frac{5}{6}=-\frac{1}{2}$

Recall that product of two real numbers is obtained when they are multiplied together. That is two or more numbers are separated by multiplication signs $\left(\right),\times \text{ or }\cdot$ .

Simplify it,

  $-\frac{3}{5}\cdot \frac{5}{6}=-\frac{1}{2}$

Thus, the simplified value of the expression $-\frac{3}{5}\cdot \frac{5}{6}$ is $-\frac{1}{2}$ .