How do you simplify 47-14 3/7-11 2/21?

Apr 25, 2018

$21 \frac{10}{21}$

Explanation:

Deal with the whole numbers first

$47 - 14 = 33$
$33 - 11 = 22$

so we now have $22 - \frac{3}{7} - \frac{2}{21}$

$\frac{3}{7} = \frac{6}{14} = \frac{9}{21}$ so if I substitute $\frac{9}{21}$ for $\frac{3}{7}$ in the question I get

$22 - \frac{9}{21} - \frac{2}{21}$
Put the two fractions together to do one subtraction

$- \frac{9}{21} - \frac{2}{21} = - \frac{11}{21}$

$\implies$$22 - \frac{11}{21}$
If I take one whole number and change it into a fraction with 21 as the denominator I would get $\frac{21}{21}$. Now I can do the subtraction

$21 \frac{21}{21} - \frac{11}{21}$

$21 \frac{10}{21}$

Apr 25, 2018

The answer is $21 \frac{10}{21}$.

Explanation:

$47 - \left(14 + \frac{3}{7}\right) - \left(11 + \frac{2}{21}\right)$

$= 47 - 14 - 11 - \left(\frac{3}{7} + \frac{2}{21}\right)$

$= 47 - 25 - \left(\frac{11}{21}\right)$

$= 22 - \frac{11}{21}$

$= \frac{462 - 11}{21}$

$= \frac{451}{21}$

$= 21 + \frac{10}{21}$

$= 21 \frac{10}{21}$