Marie has a container of oatmeal. She uses 1/4 cup of the oatmeal for breakfast and 3/8 cup for a cookie recipe. What is the total change in the amount of milk she has? Why are 1/4 and 3/8 represented with negative numbers on the number line in the example

-5/8

1/4 and 3/8 are represented as negative because it depicts a decline or reduction in the initial amount

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that :

Breakfast = 1/4 cup of Oatmeal

Cookie recipe = 3/8 cups

Change in total amount had :

total amount used = (breakfast + cookie recipe)

= 1/4 + 3/8

= (2 + 3) / 8

= 5 / 8

Hence, change in amount had = - 5/8

1/4 and 3/8 are represented as negative because it depicts a decline or reduction in the initial amount