Final answer:
To solve 5 1/2−1 3/7, first convert to improper fractions with a common denominator and then subtract: 77/14 - 20/14 = 57/14, which simplifies to 4 1/14.
Step-by-step explanation:
Henry needs to solve the problem 5 1/2−1 3/7 to find the difference between two mixed numbers. To subtract these, it's helpful to convert the mixed numbers into improper fractions. Start by finding a common denominator, which, for 2 and 7, is 14. Convert 5 1/2 to an improper fraction to get 11/2, which is equivalent to 77/14. Then, convert 1 3/7 to 10/7, which is equivalent to 20/14. Now that both fractions have the same denominator, the difference can be calculated as 77/14 - 20/14 = 57/14. This improper fraction can be simplified to 4 1/14.