Write the following as an algebraic expression.
negative four divided by the sum of $a$ and $\frac{5}{2}$

• A. $\frac{-4}{(a+\frac{5}{2})}$
• B. $\frac{a+\frac{5}{2}}{-4}$
• C. $\frac{-4}{a}+\frac{5}{2}$
• D. $-4(a+\frac{5}{2})$

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the phrase "negative four divided by the sum of a and five halves" as a fraction where the numerator is -4 and the denominator is the sum of a and 5/2.
2. Write the numerator as \(-4\) to represent the "negative four" part.
3. Express the denominator as the sum \(a + \frac{5}{2}\), since it is the sum of the variable a and the fraction five halves.
4. Combine the numerator and denominator into a single fraction using the fraction bar: \(\frac{-4}{a + \frac{5}{2}}\).
5. Use parentheses around the denominator to clearly indicate that the entire sum \(a + \frac{5}{2}\) is the divisor.