Subtracting fractions is similar to adding fractions. If the fractions have the same denominator, you subtract the numerators. If the fractions have different denominators, you have to convert to a common denominator first.Subtracting fractions is similar to adding fractions. If the fractions have the same denominator, you subtract the numerators. If the fractions have different denominators, you have to convert to a common denominator first.Subtracting fractions is similar to adding fractions. If the fractions have the same denominator, you subtract the numerators. If the fractions have different denominators, you have to convert to a common denominator first.Subtracting fractions is similar to adding fractions. If the fractions have the same denominator, you subtract the numerators. If the fractions have different denominators, you have to convert to a common denominator first.
They are called like or similar fractions.
Finding the lowest common denominator
You first convert them to similar fractions, i.e., to fractions that have the same denominator.* Step one: find a common denominator.* Step two: convert both fractions to equivalent fractions that have that denominator.
The first step, to add, subtract, or compare fractions, is always to convert the fractions to equivalent fractions, that all have the same denominator. You can use one of several techniques to get the LEAST common denominator, or simply multiply the two denominators to get a common denominator (which in this case may, or may not, be the smallest common denominator).
You can compare similar fractions by looking at their numerators. You can compare dissimilar fractions by converting them to similar fractions and looking at their numerators. You can convert a dissimilar fraction to a similar fraction by finding the least common denominator.
You don't need a common denominator to divide fractions.
The least common denominator is the least common multiple of the denominators of the fractions.
Like Fractions
To compare fractions which are not similar, the fractions must be made similar by putting them over a common denominator. There are two similar ways of doing this:Find the lowest common multiple of the denominators. Multiply the first numerator by whatever number you multiply the first denominator by to get that multiple, and do the same with the second numerator and denominator. You can then compare the numerators.Multiply the first numerator by the second denominator, and the second numerator by the first denominator, and put both numerators over the product of the two denominators. You can then compare the numerators.
To compare fractions, convert them to a common denominator - in this case, a denominator of 8 will work.To compare fractions, convert them to a common denominator - in this case, a denominator of 8 will work.To compare fractions, convert them to a common denominator - in this case, a denominator of 8 will work.To compare fractions, convert them to a common denominator - in this case, a denominator of 8 will work.
By finding the lowest common denominator of the fractions.