-4 1/4 - (-9 1/2).....distribute the negative thru the parenthesis
-4 1/4 + 9 1/2 .....turn to improper fractions
- 17/4 + 19/2...common denominator is 4
-17/4 + 38/4 ....when ur dealing with 2 different signs, u subtract and take the sign of the largest number
-17/4 + 38/4 = 21/4...turn to mixed number = 5 1/4
OR
once u get to -4 1/4 + 9 1/2...turn to decimals
-4 1/4 = -4.25
9 1/2 = 9.5
-4.25 + 9.5 = 5.25 which equals 5 1/4
