3 7/12
Subtracting Mixed Fractions For Example 8 1/3 - 4 3/4, What's The Answer?
3 7/12
8^1/4 - 3^3/4
3 7/12
3/7- 12
There are a couple of ways to do this.
1) Convert all of the numbers to improper fractions, express them over a common denominator, and add in the usual way. Then convert the result to a mixed number.
8 1/3 - 4 3/4 = 25/3 -19/4 = 100/12 - 57/12 = 43/12 = 3 7/12
2) Add the pieces, subtracting the fractions in the usual way. Adjust the result as necessary.
8 1/3 - 4 3/4 = (8 - 4) + (1/3 - 3/4) = 4 + (4/12 - 9/12) = 4 - 5/12
= (3 12/12) - 5/12 = 3 + (12/12 - 5/12) = 3 7/12
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You will note that the second approach required "borrowing" or "renaming" 4 to 3 12/12 so that we could subtract 5/12 from it. When we do this with money, we call it "breaking a dollar" or "making change."
1) Convert all of the numbers to improper fractions, express them over a common denominator, and add in the usual way. Then convert the result to a mixed number.
8 1/3 - 4 3/4 = 25/3 -19/4 = 100/12 - 57/12 = 43/12 = 3 7/12
2) Add the pieces, subtracting the fractions in the usual way. Adjust the result as necessary.
8 1/3 - 4 3/4 = (8 - 4) + (1/3 - 3/4) = 4 + (4/12 - 9/12) = 4 - 5/12
= (3 12/12) - 5/12 = 3 + (12/12 - 5/12) = 3 7/12
_____
You will note that the second approach required "borrowing" or "renaming" 4 to 3 12/12 so that we could subtract 5/12 from it. When we do this with money, we call it "breaking a dollar" or "making change."