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45 votes
45 votes
How to subtract fractions with different denominators?

Please explain step by step!

User HXH
by
2.7k points

1 Answer

13 votes
13 votes
Times the numerator and denominator so the two fractions are both the same

For example:

What is

3/4 - 1/3

Lowest common multiple of 3 and 4 is 12 so
To make 12 you times by 3 so..

4x3=12
Because you times the denominator you have to also times the numerator by the same number so
3x3=9

This means that 3/4 is equal to 9/12.

You then have to do the same thing for 1/3
To make 12 you times by 4 so..

3x4= 12
1x4=4

Therefore 1/3 is equal to 4/12

Now you can subtract them so the question was what is 3/4 - 1/3 and we know that it is also equal to 9/12 - 4/12

Therefore the answer is 5/12
User Enrishi
by
3.4k points