Final answer:
When subtracting mixed numbers, first subtract the whole-number parts and then the fractional parts.
Step-by-step explanation:
When subtracting mixed numbers, it is recommended to subtract the whole-number parts first, and then subtract the fractional parts. For instance, if we have the subtraction problem: 5 1/4 - 2 3/8, we would subtract the whole-number parts first: 5 - 2 = 3, and then subtract the fractional parts: 1/4 - 3/8 = 2/8 - 3/8 = -1/8. So the final answer is 3 - 1/8.
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