Subtracting Fractions with unequal denominators is easy:
STEP 1: Find the lowest common factor between the denominator of all three fractions.
I.E.
4/8 - 2/9 (8 x 9 = 72).
Change the denominator to this number.
STEP 2: Ask yourself, what did you multiply the denominator of each fraction of to get the lowest common factor.
So, we multiplied 8 by 9 to get 72, and visa versa (9 by 8 to get 72).
So we would multiply the 4 by 9, and the 2 by 8.
Apply this to the algorithm.
(We now have 36/72 - 16/72)
STEP 3: Work out the algorithm as per normal.
(36/72 - 16/72 = 20/72)
STEP 4: Simplify your answer:
20/72 = 5/18
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multiply the fractions until they have common denominators and then subtract them
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.
Convert unlike fractions to equivalent fractions with common denominators by finding the LCM of the denominators.
If the fractions have the same denominator, add and subtract the numerators as if the denominators weren't there and put the result over that denominator. Reduce if possible. If the fractions have different denominators, find the LCM of the denominators and convert the fractions to equivalent fractions with like denominators. Then add and subtract the numerators as if the denominators weren't there and put the result over that denominator. Reduce if possible.
If the denominators are the same, subtract the numerators. If the denominators are different, convert them to equivalent fractions with a common denominator and subtract the numerators.