Question

How do you subtract and simplify `9-5 1/3`?

Answer 1

`3 2/3`

Explanation:

Before we do any calculations, we need to make the fractions into the same form. As we have a whole number and and a mixed number, we can do this by turning both into improper (top-heavy) fractions.

We multiply the 9 by 3 as there are 3 thirds in a whole unit and 9 whole units.

`9 = (9xx3)/3 = 27/3`

Same as before, but this time there are 5 whole units. Then we add on the one third from before.

`5 1/3 = ((5xx3) + 1)/3 = 16/3`

So now we are taking away `16/3` from `27/3` which can be done by putting it all over 3 and doing a simple subtraction. We can only do this when the denominator (bottom part of the fraction) for both fractions are the same.

`(27 - 16)/3 = 11/3`

Then we just turn it into a mixed number again by seeing how many times 3 fits into 11 (so how many whole units there will be) then taking the remainder as our numerator (top part of the fraction).

`11/3 = 3 2/3`

Hope this helps; let me know if I can do anything else:)