Question

How do you subtract `5\frac { 1} { 4} - 1\frac { 3} { 4}`?

Answer 1

See the entire solution process below:

Explanation:

First, we need to convert these mixed fractions to improper fractions. Multiply the integer portion of each mixed fraction by the appropriate form of `1` and then add it to the fraction portion of the mixed fraction:

`5 1/4 - 1 3/4 ->`

`((4/4 xx 5) + 1/4) - ((4/4 xx 1) + 3/4) ->`

`(20/4 + 1/4) - (4/4 + 3/4) ->`

`(20 + 1)/4 - (4 + 3)/4 ->`

`21/4 - 7/4`

We can now subtract these two fractions:

`(21 - 7)/4 = 14/4`

Or

`14/4 = (12 + 2)/4 = 12/4 + 2/4 = 3 2/4 = 3 1/2`