If the fractions have a common (same) denominator, you simply subtract the numerators
Example 5/8 - 3/8 = 2/8 or 1/4
If the fractions have different denominators, you have to convert the fractions to ones that have the same denominator (the least common denominator) and then subtract.
Example 5/8 - 2/5 = 25/40 - 16/40 (multiply the first by 5/5 and the second by 8/8)
with the result 9/40. (check to see if the answer is reducible)
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Make the fractions equivalent then subtract
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.
It means you have to subtract fractions.
Because you can't add or subtract fractions that have different denominators. Making them like fractions, by multiplying so the denominators are the same, you can add and/or subtract them.