Welcome :: Homework Help and Answers :: Mathskey.com

Recent Visits

  
Welcome to Mathskey.com Question & Answers Community. Ask any math/science homework question and receive answers from other members of the community.

13,459 questions

17,854 answers

1,446 comments

807,107 users

How do you subtract a mixed fraction that has an unequal denominator?

+1 vote
asked Mar 6, 2013 in PRE-ALGEBRA by payton Apprentice

1 Answer

0 votes

Follow the steps to subtract a mixed fraction that has an unequal denominator :

Step 1 :

First convert each mixed fraction into an improper fraction.

Step 2 :

If they don ' t have common denominators, then find an common denominator, and use it to rewrite each fraction.

Step 3 :

Then, subtract the fractions and simplify.

For example :

4 1/2 - 3 1/4.

Step 1 :

Convert each mixed fraction into an improper fraction.

(2*4 + 1)/2 - (3*4 + 1)/4

= 9/2 - 13/4

Step 2 :

The least common denominator of 2 and 4 is 4.

Write each fraction with common denominator.

= 18/4 - 13/4

Step 3 :

Subtract the fractions.

= (18 - 13)/4

= 5/4

= 1 1/4.

Therefore, 4 1/2 - 3 1/4 = 1 1/4.

answered Aug 1, 2014 by lilly Expert
reshown Aug 1, 2014 by bradely

Related questions

asked Oct 15, 2015 in BASIC MATH by Rosfate Rookie
asked Apr 21, 2014 in ALGEBRA 1 by anonymous
...