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Simplify

$\frac{2}{4} - 5$

Step 1

Cancel the common factor of $2$ and $4$ .

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Step 1.1

Factor $2$ out of $2$ .

$\frac{2 (1)}{4} - 5$

Step 1.2

Cancel the common factors.

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Step 1.2.1

Factor $2$ out of $4$ .

$\frac{2 \cdot 1}{2 \cdot 2} - 5$

Step 1.2.2

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{2 \cdot 1}{2 \cdot 2} - 5$

Step 1.2.3

Rewrite the expression.

$\frac{1}{2} - 5$

Step 2

To write $- 5$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{2}{2}$ .

$\frac{1}{2} - 5 \cdot \frac{2}{2}$

Step 3

Combine $- 5$ and $\frac{2}{2}$ .

$\frac{1}{2} + \frac{- 5 \cdot 2}{2}$

Step 4

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$\frac{1 - 5 \cdot 2}{2}$

Step 5

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 5.1

Multiply $- 5$ by $2$ .

$\frac{1 - 10}{2}$

Step 5.2

Subtract $10$ from $1$ .

$\frac{- 9}{2}$

Step 6

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$- \frac{9}{2}$

Step 7

The result can be shown in multiple forms.

Exact Form:

$- \frac{9}{2}$

Decimal Form:

$- 4.5$

Mixed Number Form:

$- 4 \frac{1}{2}$

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