Solve the Fraction Subtraction: 1/4 - 1/6

Question

Solve the following equation:

1416= \frac{1}{4}-\frac{1}{6}=

Video Solution

Solution Steps

00:00 Solution
00:02 We want to find the least common denominator
00:05 Therefore we'll multiply by 3, by 2 respectively to find the common denominator 12
00:08 Remember to multiply both numerator and denominator
00:15 Let's calculate the products
00:26 Subtract under the common denominator
00:30 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's first identify the lowest common denominator between 4 and 6.

In order to determine the lowest common denominator, we need to find a number that is divisible by both 4 and 6.

In this case, the common denominator is 12.

Let's proceed to multiply each fraction by the appropriate number to reach the denominator 12.

We'll multiply the first fraction by 3

We'll multiply the second fraction by 2

1×34×31×26×2=312212 \frac{1\times3}{4\times3}-\frac{1\times2}{6\times2}=\frac{3}{12}-\frac{2}{12}

Now let's subtract:

3212=112 \frac{3-2}{12}=\frac{1}{12}

Answer

112 \frac{1}{12}