You need to change the fractions so that they all have a common denominator (the bottom half of the fraction). So you have to fond a number that all three denominators go into. You have 8, 2, and 3. They all go into 24. Times all the fractions by whatever they need to make the bottom 24. but you can only times them by 1, or else it will ruin your equation. [3/3 x 5/8 = 15/24] [12/12 x 1/2 = 12/24] [8/8 x 2/3 = 16/24] now plug your new fractions into the problem. (2 15/24 +2 12/24) - 4 16/24. simplify the part in the parenthesis first, (4 27/24) - 4 16/24. since you are subtracting, you can leave the part in parenthesis as a wrong fraction. now subtract. 4 27/24 - 4 16/24 = 11/24. you can't simplify that to be a smaller number, so that is your answer:) [11/24]