Final answer:
To calculate 1/2 - 3/7, find a common denominator, which is 14, convert each fraction, and then subtract the numerators. The solution is 1/14, and it's important to simplify and check that the result is reasonable.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find 1/2 - 3/7, first, we need to write down the subtraction with a common denominator. The least common denominator (LCD) for 2 and 7 is 14. So we convert each fraction to an equivalent fraction with the denominator 14.
Convert the fractions:
1/2 = (1×14)/(2×14) = 7/14
3/7 = (3×14)/(7×14) = 6/14
Now, subtract the fractions:
Subtract the numerators: 7/14 - 6/14 = (7 - 6)/14 = 1/14
The answer to 1/2 - 3/7 is 1/14.
Always eliminate terms wherever possible to simplify the algebra and check the answer to see if it is reasonable. In this case, since we subtract a smaller fraction from a larger one, the answer must be a positive fraction, which confirms our solution is reasonable.