Question

How do you subtract `\frac { 5} { 18} - \frac { 5} { 6}`?

Answer 1

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, get the fraction on the right over a common denominator with the fraction on the left by multiplying by the appropriate form of `1` which does not change the value of the fraction:

`5/18 - 5/6 => 5/18 - (3/3 xx 5/6) => 5/18 - 15/18`

Now, subtract the numerators over the common denominator:

`5/18 - 15/18 => (5 - 15)/18 => -10/18 => -(2 xx 5)/(2 xx 9) =>`

`-(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2))) xx 5)/(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(2))) xx 9) => -5/9`