How do you subtract #8\frac { 6} { 7} - 5\frac { 1} { 5}#?

1 Answer
Aug 7, 2017

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, convert each mixed number to an improper fraction:

#8 6/7 - 5 1/5 => (8 + 6/7) - (5 + 1/5) =>#

#([8 xx 7/7] + 6/7) - ([5 xx 5/5] + 1/5) =>#

#(56/7 + 6/7) - (25/5 + 1/5) =>#

#62/7 - 26/5#

Next, we need to put each fraction over a common denominator by multiplying it by the appropriate form of #1#:

#(5/5 xx 62/7) - (7/7 xx 26/5) =>#

#(5 xx 62)/(5 xx 7) - (7 xx 26)/(7 xx 5) =>#

#310/35 - 182/35#

Then, we can subtract the numerators over the common denominator:

#310/35 - 182/35 => (310 - 182)/35 =>#

#128/35#

Now, if necessary we can convert the improper fraction into a mixed number:

#128/35 => (105 + 23)/35 => 105/35 + 23/35 => 3 + 23/35 =>#

#3 23/35#