Question

How do you evaluate `6\frac { 1} { 3} - 2\frac { 1} { 9}`?

Answer 1

You convert both of them to improper fractions. Then you change both fractions to have common denominators. Finally, you subtract.

Explanation:

First, we need to change both mixed numbers to improper fractions. In order to change a mixed number to an improper fraction, you keep the denominator the same. However for the numerator part, you have to multiply the whole number by the denominator. Then you add that result to the numerator in the mixed number.

For example,

`6 1/3` would become `19/3`

and

`2 1/9` would become `19/9`

Now you have to change both improper fractions to have the same denominator in order to calculate.

So `19/3` would become `57/9`

and

`19/9` would stay as `19/9`

Now, we calculate `57/9 - 19/9` to get `38/9`, which is the answer.