How do you simplify #1/2-(1/8+1/8)#?

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Answer 1 · 2016-11-23T13:23:15

#1/4#

First, add the terms within parenthesis:

#1/2 - (1/8 + 1/8) => 1/2 - 2/8#

Next, reduce the second term:

#1/2 - ((2/2) * (1/4)) => 1/2 - (1*(1/4)) => 1/2 - 1/4#

To get these two terms over a common denominator (in this case #4#) we need to multiple the first term by #(2/2)#:

#1/2 - 1/4 => ((2/2) * (1/2)) - 1/4 = 2/4 - 1/4#

Now we can subtract the terms to obtain the final answer:

#2/4 - 1/4 => (2 - 1)/4 => 1/4#