Math Problem Solver

\[ -\left( 5 \cdot \frac{1}{2} \right) - 3 = - \frac{11}{2} = -5.5 \]

The sum can be computed by rewriting each term over a common denominator, where the least common denominator of \(\frac{-5}{2}\) and \(\frac{-3}{1}\) is \(2\). \[ \begin{aligned} -\left( 5 \cdot \frac{1}{2} \right) - 3 &= \frac{-5 \cdot 1}{2 \cdot 1} + \frac{-3 \cdot 2}{1 \cdot 2} \\ &= \frac{-5 + -6}{2} \\ &= \frac{-11}{2} \end{aligned} \]