2 1/4 Minus 1 2/5 as a Fraction
In this article, we will learn how to subtract two mixed numbers, 2 1/4 and 1 2/5, and convert the result to a fraction.
Step 1: Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions
To subtract two mixed numbers, we need to convert them to improper fractions first. An improper fraction is a fraction where the numerator is greater than or equal to the denominator.
2 1/4 as an Improper Fraction
To convert 2 1/4 to an improper fraction, we multiply the whole number part (2) by the denominator (4) and then add the numerator (1):
2 × 4 = 8 8 + 1 = 9
So, 2 1/4 is equal to 9/4.
1 2/5 as an Improper Fraction
To convert 1 2/5 to an improper fraction, we follow the same steps:
1 × 5 = 5 5 + 2 = 7
So, 1 2/5 is equal to 7/5.
Step 2: Subtract the Improper Fractions
Now that we have converted both mixed numbers to improper fractions, we can subtract them:
9/4 - 7/5 = ?
To subtract fractions with different denominators, we need to find the least common multiple (LCM) of the denominators, which is the smallest number that both denominators can divide into evenly. In this case, the LCM of 4 and 5 is 20.
We can convert both fractions to have a denominator of 20:
9/4 = (9 × 5)/(4 × 5) = 45/20 7/5 = (7 × 4)/(5 × 4) = 28/20
Now we can subtract:
45/20 - 28/20 = 17/20
Result
The result of subtracting 2 1/4 and 1 2/5 is 17/20.
