Hello!
Just to make this simpler, let's convert the fractions to decimals.
-3.5-(-12.25)
-- means add, so we will switch it to that.
-3.5+12.25
Now we add.
-3.5+12.25=8.75
.75 is 3.4.
Therefore, our answer is D) 8 3/4.
I hope this helps!
first off, let's convert the mixed fractions to "improper", and also recall that minus * minus is plus.
[tex] \bf \stackrel{mixed}{3\frac{1}{2}}\implies \cfrac{3\cdot 2+1}{2}\implies \stackrel{improper}{\cfrac{7}{2}}
\\\\\\
\stackrel{mixed}{12\frac{1}{4}}\implies \cfrac{12\cdot 4+1}{4}\implies \stackrel{improper}{\cfrac{49}{4}}\\\\
-------------------------------\\\\
-3\frac{1}{2}-\left(-12\frac{1}{4} \right)\implies -\cfrac{7}{2}-\left( -\cfrac{49}{4} \right)\implies -\cfrac{7}{2}+\cfrac{49}{4}
\\\\\\
\stackrel{LCD~4}{\cfrac{-7(2)+49(1)}{4}}\implies \cfrac{-14+49}{4}\implies \cfrac{35}{4}\implies 8\frac{3}{4} [/tex]
