Subtracting Mixed Numbers: 5 1/6 - 7 1/3 as a Fraction
When dealing with mixed numbers, subtracting them can be a bit tricky. However, with the right steps, you can easily simplify the expression 5 1/6 - 7 1/3 as a fraction.
Step 1: Convert Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions
To subtract mixed numbers, we need to convert them into improper fractions first. An improper fraction is a fraction where the numerator is greater than the denominator.
Convert 5 1/6 to an improper fraction:
5 1/6 = 5 × 6/6 + 1/6 = 31/6
Convert 7 1/3 to an improper fraction:
7 1/3 = 7 × 3/3 + 1/3 = 22/3
Step 2: Find a Common Denominator
To subtract these fractions, we need a common denominator. The least common multiple (LCM) of 6 and 3 is 6. So, we'll convert the second fraction to have a denominator of 6:
22/3 = 44/6
Step 3: Subtract the Fractions
Now that we have the fractions with the same denominator, we can subtract them:
31/6 - 44/6 = -13/6
Simplifying the Result
The result is an improper fraction, but we can simplify it further by dividing both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD):
-13 ÷ 1 = -13 6 ÷ 1 = 6
So, the simplified result is:
-13/6
Therefore, 5 1/6 - 7 1/3 as a fraction is equal to -13/6.
