Answer: 3/16 - 3/9 = -7/48
Step-by-step:
The fractions have unlike denominators. First, find the Least Common Denominator and rewrite the fractions with the common denominator.
LCD(3/16, 3/9) = 144
Multiply both the numerator and denominator of each fraction by the number that makes its denominator equal the LCD. This is basically multiplying each fraction by 1.
(3/16×9/9)−(3/9×16/16)=?
Complete the multiplication and the equation becomes
27/144−48/144=?
The two fractions now have like denominators so you can subtract the numerators.
Then:
27−48=−21
144=144
This fraction can be reduced by dividing both the numerator and denominator by the Greatest Common Factor of 21 and 144 using
GCF(21,144) = 3
−21÷3=-7
144÷3=48
Therefore:
3/16−3/9=−7/48