Answer :
Answer:
- convert the mixed fractions to improper fractions (where the numerator is greater than or equal to the denominator): multiply the whole number part by the fraction's denominator, add that to the numerator, write the result on top of the denominator.
- if the denominators are not the same, work out the common denominator and rewrite the fractions with the same denominators
- subtract by subtracting the numerators and writing the result over the denominator
- convert back to mixed fractions by dividing the numerator by the denominator, write down the whole number answer, write down the remainder above the denominator.
Example
[tex]3\frac23-1\frac45[/tex]
convert to improper fractions:
[tex]\dfrac{3 \times 3+2}{3}-\dfrac{1 \times 5+4}{5}=\dfrac{11}{3}-\dfrac{9}{5}[/tex]
common denominator = 3 × 5 = 15, so:
[tex]\dfrac{11}{3}-\dfrac{9}{5}=\dfrac{11\times 5}{3\times 5}-\dfrac{9\times 3}{5\times 3}=\dfrac{55}{15}-\dfrac{27}{15}[/tex]
subtract:
[tex]\dfrac{55}{15}-\dfrac{27}{15}=\dfrac{55-27}{15}=\dfrac{28}{15}[/tex]
convert back to mixed fractions:
[tex]28 \div 15=1 \textsf{ remainder }13=1 \frac{13}{15}[/tex]
How do we subtract mixed fractions?
To subtract mixed fractions, we must follow the steps:
- Convert the mixed fraction to improper fraction.
2. Multiply the denominator and the numerator by the LCM of the denominators to make the denominators same. P.S: (If the denominators are the same, you can skip this step).
3. Simplify the fractions. (The denominators do not change).
4. (Optional) Convert the fractions to mixed fraction.
Solving an example:
Let's take an example.
- ⇒ [tex]4 \frac{2}{5} - 3 \frac{3}{8}[/tex]
Step-1: Convert the fractions to improper fraction:
- ⇒ [tex]4 \frac{2}{5} - 3 \frac{3}{8}[/tex]
- ⇒ [tex]\frac{(4)(5) + 2}{5} - \frac{(3)(8) + 3}{8}[/tex]
- ⇒ [tex]\frac{20 + 2}{5} - \frac{24+ 3}{8}[/tex]
- ⇒ [tex]\frac{22}{5} - \frac{27}{8}[/tex]
Step-2: Make the denominators same:
- ⇒ [tex]\frac{22}{5} - \frac{27}{8}[/tex]
- ⇒ [tex]\frac{(22)(8)}{(5)(8)} - \frac{(27)(5)}{(8)(5)}[/tex]
- ⇒ [tex]\frac{176}{40} - \frac{135}{40}[/tex]
Step-3: Subtract:
- ⇒ [tex]\frac{176}{40} - \frac{135}{40}[/tex]
- ⇒ [tex]\frac{41}{40}[/tex]
Step-4: Convert the fraction to mixed fraction:
- ⇒ [tex]\frac{41}{40}[/tex]
- ⇒ [tex]\frac{40}{40} + \frac{1}{40}[/tex]
- ⇒ [tex]1 + \frac{1}{40}[/tex]
- ⇒ [tex]1\frac{1}{40}[/tex]