To subtract fractions, we must find the common denominator by simplifying, expanding, or multiplying the denominators.
Then, we only need to subtract the numerators to get the result.

Suggested Topics to Practice in Advance

  1. Sum of Fractions

Practice Subtraction of Fractions

Examples with solutions for Subtraction of Fractions

Exercise #1

12+85= \frac{12+8}{5}=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's begin by multiplying the numerator:

12+8=20 12+8=20

We should obtain the fraction written below:

205 \frac{20}{5}

Let's now reduce the numerator and denominator by 5 and we should obtain the following result:

41=4 \frac{4}{1}=4

Answer

4 4

Exercise #2

35310= \frac{3}{5}-\frac{3}{10}=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's try to find the lowest common denominator between 5 and 10

To find the lowest common denominator, we need to find a number that is divisible by both 5 and 10

In this case, the common denominator is 10

Now we'll multiply each fraction by the appropriate number to reach the denominator 10

We'll multiply the first fraction by 2

We'll multiply the second fraction by 1

3×25×23×110×1=610310 \frac{3\times2}{5\times2}-\frac{3\times1}{10\times1}=\frac{6}{10}-\frac{3}{10}

Now let's subtract:

6310=310 \frac{6-3}{10}=\frac{3}{10}

Answer

310 \frac{3}{10}

Exercise #3

45510= \frac{4}{5}-\frac{5}{10}=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's try to find the least common denominator between 5 and 10

To find the least common denominator, we need to find a number that is divisible by both 5 and 10

In this case, the common denominator is 10

Now we'll multiply each fraction by the appropriate number to reach the denominator 10

We'll multiply the first fraction by 2

We'll multiply the second fraction by 1

4×25×25×110×1=810510 \frac{4\times2}{5\times2}-\frac{5\times1}{10\times1}=\frac{8}{10}-\frac{5}{10}

Now let's subtract:

8510=310 \frac{8-5}{10}=\frac{3}{10}

Answer

310 \frac{3}{10}

Exercise #4

45310= \frac{4}{5}-\frac{3}{10}=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's try to find the least common denominator between 5 and 10

To find the least common denominator, we need to find a number that is divisible by both 5 and 10

In this case, the common denominator is 10

Now we'll multiply each fraction by the appropriate number to reach the denominator 10

We'll multiply the first fraction by 2

We'll multiply the second fraction by 1

4×25×23×110×1=810310 \frac{4\times2}{5\times2}-\frac{3\times1}{10\times1}=\frac{8}{10}-\frac{3}{10}

Now let's subtract:

8310=510 \frac{8-3}{10}=\frac{5}{10}

Answer

510 \frac{5}{10}

Exercise #5

41014= \frac{4}{10}-\frac{1}{4}=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's try to find the lowest common denominator between 4 and 10

To find the lowest common denominator, we need to find a number that is divisible by both 4 and 10

In this case, the common denominator is 20

Now we'll multiply each fraction by the appropriate number to reach the denominator 20

We'll multiply the first fraction by 2

We'll multiply the second fraction by 5

4×210×21×54×5=820520 \frac{4\times2}{10\times2}-\frac{1\times5}{4\times5}=\frac{8}{20}-\frac{5}{20}

Now let's subtract:

8520=320 \frac{8-5}{20}=\frac{3}{20}

Answer

320 \frac{3}{20}

Exercise #6

71026= \frac{7}{10}-\frac{2}{6}=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's try to find the lowest common denominator between 10 and 6

To find the lowest common denominator, we need to find a number that is divisible by both 10 and 6

In this case, the common denominator is 30

Now we'll multiply each fraction by the appropriate number to reach the denominator 30

We'll multiply the first fraction by 3

We'll multiply the second fraction by 5

7×310×32×56×5=21301030 \frac{7\times3}{10\times3}-\frac{2\times5}{6\times5}=\frac{21}{30}-\frac{10}{30}

Now let's subtract:

211030=1130 \frac{21-10}{30}=\frac{11}{30}

Answer

1130 \frac{11}{30}

Exercise #7

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

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's try to find the lowest common denominator between 4 and 6

To find 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

Now we'll 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}

Exercise #8

51016= \frac{5}{10}-\frac{1}{6}=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's try to find the lowest common multiple between 6 and 10

To find the lowest common multiple, we need to find a number that is divisible by both 6 and 10

In this case, the lowest common multiple is 30

Now let's multiply each number by an appropriate factor to reach the multiple of 30

We will multiply the first number by 3

We will multiply the second number by 5

5×310×31×56×5=1530530 \frac{5\times3}{10\times3}-\frac{1\times5}{6\times5}=\frac{15}{30}-\frac{5}{30}

Now let's subtract:

15530=1030 \frac{15-5}{30}=\frac{10}{30}

Answer

1030 \frac{10}{30}

Exercise #9

5624= \frac{5}{6}-\frac{2}{4}=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's try to find the lowest common denominator between 4 and 6

To find 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

Now we'll multiply each fraction by the appropriate number to reach the denominator 12

We'll multiply the first fraction by 2

We'll multiply the second fraction by 3

5×26×22×34×3=1012612 \frac{5\times2}{6\times2}-\frac{2\times3}{4\times3}=\frac{10}{12}-\frac{6}{12}

Now let's subtract:

10612=412 \frac{10-6}{12}=\frac{4}{12}

Answer

412 \frac{4}{12}

Exercise #10

81026= \frac{8}{10}-\frac{2}{6}=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's try to find the lowest common denominator between 6 and 10

To find the lowest common denominator, we need to find a number that is divisible by both 6 and 10

In this case, the common denominator is 30

Now we'll multiply each fraction by the appropriate number to reach the denominator 30

We'll multiply the first fraction by 3

We'll multiply the second fraction by 5

8×310×32×56×5=24301030 \frac{8\times3}{10\times3}-\frac{2\times5}{6\times5}=\frac{24}{30}-\frac{10}{30}

Now let's subtract:

241030=1430 \frac{24-10}{30}=\frac{14}{30}

Answer

1430 \frac{14}{30}

Exercise #11

3416= \frac{3}{4}-\frac{1}{6}=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

In this question, we need to find a common denominator.
However, we don't have to multiply the denominators by each other,
there is a lower common denominator: 12.

3×33×4 \frac{3\times3}{3\times4}

1×26×2 \frac{1\times2}{6\times2}

912212=9212=712 \frac{9}{12}-\frac{2}{12}=\frac{9-2}{12}=\frac{7}{12}

Answer

712 \frac{7}{12}

Exercise #12

81015210= \frac{8}{10}-\frac{1}{5}-\frac{2}{10}=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's try to find the least common denominator between 10 and 5

To find the least common denominator, we need to find a number that is divisible by both 10 and 5

In this case, the common denominator is 10

Now we'll multiply each fraction by the appropriate number to reach the denominator 10

We'll multiply the first fraction by 1

We'll multiply the second fraction by 2

We'll multiply the third fraction by 1

8×110×11×25×22×110×1=810210210 \frac{8\times1}{10\times1}-\frac{1\times2}{5\times2}-\frac{2\times1}{10\times1}=\frac{8}{10}-\frac{2}{10}-\frac{2}{10}

Now let's subtract:

82210=6210=410 \frac{8-2-2}{10}=\frac{6-2}{10}=\frac{4}{10}

Answer

410 \frac{4}{10}

Exercise #13

41015110= \frac{4}{10}-\frac{1}{5}-\frac{1}{10}=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's try to find the least common denominator between 10 and 5

To find the least common denominator, we need to find a number that is divisible by both 10 and 5

In this case, the common denominator is 10

Now we'll multiply each fraction by the appropriate number to reach the denominator 10

We'll multiply the first fraction by 1

We'll multiply the second fraction by 2

We'll multiply the third fraction by 1

4×110×11×25×21×110×1=410210110 \frac{4\times1}{10\times1}-\frac{1\times2}{5\times2}-\frac{1\times1}{10\times1}=\frac{4}{10}-\frac{2}{10}-\frac{1}{10}

Now we'll subtract and get:

42110=2110=110 \frac{4-2-1}{10}=\frac{2-1}{10}=\frac{1}{10}

Answer

110 \frac{1}{10}

Exercise #14

8521523= \frac{8}{5}-\frac{2}{15}-\frac{2}{3}=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's try to find the least common multiple (LCM) between 5, 15, and 3

To find the least common multiple, we need to find a number that is divisible by 5, 15, and 3

In this case, the least common multiple is 15

Now we'll multiply each fraction by the appropriate number to reach the denominator 15

We'll multiply the first fraction by 3

We'll multiply the second fraction by 1

We'll multiply the third fraction by 5

8×35×32×115×12×53×5=24152151015 \frac{8\times3}{5\times3}-\frac{2\times1}{15\times1}-\frac{2\times5}{3\times5}=\frac{24}{15}-\frac{2}{15}-\frac{10}{15}

Now let's subtract:

2421015=221015=1215 \frac{24-2-10}{15}=\frac{22-10}{15}=\frac{12}{15}

Let's divide both numerator and denominator by 3 and we get:

12:315:3=45 \frac{12:3}{15:3}=\frac{4}{5}

Answer

45 \frac{4}{5}

Exercise #15

7521523= \frac{7}{5}-\frac{2}{15}-\frac{2}{3}=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's try to find the least common denominator between 5 and 15 and 3

To find the least common denominator, we need to find a number that is divisible by 5, 15, and 3

In this case, the common denominator is 15

Now we'll multiply each fraction by the appropriate number to reach the denominator 15

We'll multiply the first fraction by 3

We'll multiply the second fraction by 1

We'll multiply the third fraction by 5

7×35×32×115×12×53×5=21152151015 \frac{7\times3}{5\times3}-\frac{2\times1}{15\times1}-\frac{2\times5}{3\times5}=\frac{21}{15}-\frac{2}{15}-\frac{10}{15}

Now let's subtract:

2121015=191015=915 \frac{21-2-10}{15}=\frac{19-10}{15}=\frac{9}{15}

We'll divide both the numerator and denominator by 3 and get:

9:315:3=35 \frac{9:3}{15:3}=\frac{3}{5}

Answer

35 \frac{3}{5}

Topics learned in later sections

  1. Multiplication of Fractions
  2. Division of Fractions
  3. Comparing Fractions
  4. Operations with Fractions