Question

Find the difference between 3 1/12 and 2 1/6. Leave your answer as a proper fraction or mixed number.

Answer 1

Answer:

$\frac{8}{6}=1\frac{1}{3}$

Step-by-step explanation:

$3\frac{1}{2}-2\frac{1}{6}$  Fractions cannot be added or subtracted unless they have the same denominator (bottom number)

$\frac{7}{2}-\frac{13}{6}$     Change to an improper fraction. Multiply the denominator times the whole number (number on the side) then add to the numerator (top number) and place over the the denominator (3*2+1=7→$\frac{7}{2}$)

$(\frac{7}{2}*\frac{3}{3})$ - $\frac{13}{6}$   In order to give both fractions the same denominator, find the least common denominator (LCD = one number that both denominators will divide evenly into) LCD = 6. Then multiply the top and bottom by a number that gives the LCD. We only need to multiply the first fraction  top and bottom by 3.

$\frac{21}{6} - \frac{13}{6} = \frac{8}{6}$   This is an improper fraction because the numerator is larger than the denominator. To make a mixed number divide the numerator by the denominator and simplify.

$\frac{8}{6} = 1\frac{2}{6} = 1\frac{1}{3}$   $(\frac{2}{6} \frac{divided by}{divided by}\frac{2}{2} = \frac{1}{3})$