Answer:
Esmerelda did not use the reciprocal of the divisor.
Step-by-step explanation:
A complex fraction is another way to show division of two fractions. In this case, we are dividing -5 1/4 by 3/2.
We first convert -5 1/4 to an improper fraction. To do this, multiply the whole number by the denominator; this gives us -5(4) = -20. Then add the -1 (negative since the fraction is negative); this gives us -21/4.
This means we are dividing -21/4 by 3/2.
To divide fractions, we multiply by the reciprocal; this means we flip the second fraction and multiply. We would then multiply -21/4 by 2/3. This is the step Esmerelda did not do.
