Subtracting Fractions

Subtracting Fractions

How to subtract fractions from each other

Subtracting fractions with same denominator

• Simply subtract the top numbers (the bottom number stays the same)

• Example: 5/7 - 3/7 = 2/7

Multiple Choice

What is ¹⁵/₁₆ - ¹²/₁₆?

• ¹/₃

• ⁴/₁₆ or ¹/₄

• ³/₁₆

• ²/₁₆ or ¹/₈

Subtracting fractions with different denominators

• Step 1 - Change the denominators to a common denominator (a number that they both divide into)

• Step 2 - Multiply the top number by however many times the bottom number divided into the common denominator; for example, 2/3 - 1/4 becomes 8/12 - 3/12

• Step 3 - Subtract the top numbers from each other; for example, 8/12 - 3/12 becomes 5/12

Multiple Choice

3/10 - 1/5

• 2/11

• 4/5

• 2/3

• 1/10

Multiple Choice

11/12 - 1/8

• 3/4

• 11/24

• 19/24

• 13/14

Multiple Choice

3/4 - 1/2

• 1/3

• 1/4

• 2/3

• 1/5

Subtracting Mixed Numbers

• Step 1 - Convert from Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions

• Step 2 - If there are different denominators, change them to a common denominator

• Step 3 - Subtract the top numbers from each other; remember to change back to a mixed number if required; for example, 22/15 - 4/15 becomes 18/15 (or 1 3/15)

Multiple Choice

4 & 1/4 - 2 & 3/4 =

• 1 & 2/4

• 2 & 1/2

• 1 1/2

• 6 3/4

Multiple Choice

5 & 1/4 - 1 & 1/2

• 3 & 3/4

• 4 & 3/4

• 3 % 1/4

• 4 & 1/4

Multiple Choice

$$5\ \frac{4}{5}\ -\ 2\ \frac{1}{10}\ =$$  

Answer in simplest form

• $$3\ \frac{7}{10}$$  

• $$\frac{7}{10}$$  

• $$3\ \frac{8}{10}$$  

• $$3\ \frac{4}{5}$$