(01.02 lc)simplify negative 7 and 1 over 8 − negative 9 and 1 over 2. negative 2 and 3 over 8 negative 16 and 5 over 8 16 and 5 over 8 2 and 3 over 8

Your question seems to be -7 +(1/8) -(-9) + (1/2) but then there is a decimal in front of the next -2 so that makes no sense unless that is a period before starting a new equation. You can simply type this beginning section into a calculator to get your answer of (21/8), but I have a feeling you just tried to copy and paste a test question and it did not format correctly in your question so is probably much more complicated than using a calculator. 
A better idea would be to write it in math terms instead of words, then find a common denominator so you can simplify. Writing it out in words makes it too hard for your brain to think about it in terms of math.

Do you need with the x value for the minimum? its always between the two intercepts for a parabola