I need help please i might fail math end of quator

Compare the subtraction problems 6/8 - 5/8 = 1/8 and 6/9 - 7/9 = 1/9 why is the answer to the first problem positive and the answer to the second problem negative

The parabola y = x² - 4 opens: a.) up b.) down c.) right d.) left

Last year, a state university received 3,560 applications from boys. of those applications, 35 percent were from boys who lived in other states. part a)how many applications did the university receive from boys who lived in other states? part b)applications to the university from boys represented 40percent of all applications. how many applications did the university receive in all? i don't how to do part b so me and plz tell how you got your answer