What is the best estimate for the value of the expression? open paren 34 eighths minus 16 thirds close paren minus 14 ninths

First simplify 34/8 to 4.25. Then 16/3 is about 5.33 and 14/9 is about 1.56, so the expression is about 4.25 − 5.33 − 1.56 = −2.64. Of the choices, −2 1/2 is closer to −2.64 than −3, so the best estimate is negative 2 and 1 half.

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