Calculate the Difference: 1 minus 3/4 Step-by-Step

Q: Why can't I just subtract 1 - 3 = -2?

Because you're subtracting different units! Think of it like subtracting 1 whole pizza from 3 quarter-slices - you need to convert everything to the same size pieces first.

Q: How do I convert 1 to a fraction with denominator 4?

Remember that any whole number equals itself over 1: $ 1 = \frac{1}{1} $. Then multiply both numerator and denominator by 4: $ \frac{1 \times 4}{1 \times 4} = \frac{4}{4} $

Q: Can I simplify my answer further?

$ \frac{1}{4} $ is already in simplest form because 1 and 4 share no common factors other than 1. Always check if your numerator and denominator can be divided by the same number.

Q: Is there another way to think about this problem?

Yes! You can think of it as: "I have 1 whole thing, and I take away 3 out of 4 parts. How much is left?" That leaves you with 1 out of 4 parts, or $ \frac{1}{4} $.

Fraction Subtraction with Whole Numbers

$1-\frac{3}{4}=$

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:00 Solve

00:03 Convert whole number to its corresponding proper fraction

00:09 Subtract with common denominator

00:17 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

$1-\frac{3}{4}=$

Step-by-step solution

To solve the problem of $1 - \frac{3}{4}$ , we need to follow these steps:

Step 1: Express the whole number 1 as a fraction with the same denominator as $\frac{3}{4}$ .
Step 2: Perform the subtraction with the common denominators.
Step 3: Simplify the resulting fraction, if necessary.

Let's work through each step:
Step 1: Convert the whole number 1 into a fraction with a denominator of 4. Therefore, $1$ can be written as $\frac{4}{4}$ .
Step 2: Now subtract $\frac{3}{4}$ from $\frac{4}{4}$ . The formula for subtracting fractions is:

\frac{a}{b} - \frac{c}{b} = \frac{a-c}{b}

Using the numbers we have:

\frac{4}{4} - \frac{3}{4} = \frac{4-3}{4} = \frac{1}{4}

Step 3: The resulting fraction $\frac{1}{4}$ is already in its simplest form.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is $\frac{1}{4}$ .

Final Answer

$\frac{1}{4}$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: Convert whole numbers to fractions with common denominators
Technique: Write 1 as $\frac{4}{4}$ to match denominator 4
Check: Verify $\frac{1}{4} + \frac{3}{4} = \frac{4}{4} = 1$ ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Subtracting without common denominators
Don't subtract 1 - 3 = -2 and keep the denominator 4 = $\frac{-2}{4}$ ! This ignores the fact that 1 and $\frac{3}{4}$ have different denominators. Always convert the whole number to a fraction with the same denominator first.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$2\frac{2}{5}+2\frac{2}{5}=$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why can't I just subtract 1 - 3 = -2?

Because you're subtracting different units! Think of it like subtracting 1 whole pizza from 3 quarter-slices - you need to convert everything to the same size pieces first.

How do I convert 1 to a fraction with denominator 4?

Remember that any whole number equals itself over 1: $1 = \frac{1}{1}$ . Then multiply both numerator and denominator by 4: $\frac{1 \times 4}{1 \times 4} = \frac{4}{4}$

What if I get a negative answer?

If you're subtracting a larger fraction from a smaller number, you will get negative results. That's mathematically correct! Just make sure you converted to common denominators first.

Can I simplify my answer further?

$\frac{1}{4}$ is already in simplest form because 1 and 4 share no common factors other than 1. Always check if your numerator and denominator can be divided by the same number.

Is there another way to think about this problem?

Yes! You can think of it as: "I have 1 whole thing, and I take away 3 out of 4 parts. How much is left?" That leaves you with 1 out of 4 parts, or $\frac{1}{4}$ .

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