Subtracting Mixed Numbers: 7 1/6 - 3 5/8 as a Fraction
In this article, we will learn how to subtract mixed numbers, specifically 7 1/6 - 3 5/8 as a fraction.
Understanding Mixed Numbers
A mixed number is a combination of a whole number and a fraction. For example, 7 1/6 is a mixed number, where 7 is the whole number and 1/6 is the fraction.
Converting Mixed Numbers to Improper Fractions
To subtract mixed numbers, we need to convert them to improper fractions. An improper fraction is a fraction where the numerator is greater than the denominator.
Let's convert 7 1/6 and 3 5/8 to improper fractions:
7 1/6 = (7 × 6) + 1 / 6 = 43/6
3 5/8 = (3 × 8) + 5 / 8 = 29/8
Subtracting the Fractions
Now that we have converted the mixed numbers to improper fractions, we can subtract them:
43/6 - 29/8
To subtract these fractions, we need to find a common denominator. The least common multiple (LCM) of 6 and 8 is 24. So, we can convert both fractions to have a denominator of 24:
43/6 = (43 × 4) / (6 × 4) = 172/24
29/8 = (29 × 3) / (8 × 3) = 87/24
Now, we can subtract:
172/24 - 87/24 = 85/24
Simplifying the Fraction
We can simplify the fraction 85/24 by dividing both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD), which is 1. Therefore, the simplified fraction is:
85/24
Conclusion
In this article, we learned how to subtract mixed numbers 7 1/6 - 3 5/8 as a fraction. We converted the mixed numbers to improper fractions, found a common denominator, subtracted the fractions, and simplified the result to get 85/24.
