Solve: Subtracting Positive Fractions 1/8 - 4/6 Step by Step

Fraction Subtraction with Mixed Signs

(+18)(+46)= (+\frac{1}{8})-(+\frac{4}{6})=

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Solve
00:03 Negative times positive is always negative
00:07 Multiply by 3 to find the common denominator
00:11 Multiply by 4 to find the common denominator
00:15 Make sure to multiply both numerator and denominator
00:20 Combine the fractions into one fraction
00:24 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

(+18)(+46)= (+\frac{1}{8})-(+\frac{4}{6})=

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve the problem (+18)(+46) (+\frac{1}{8})-(+\frac{4}{6}), let's follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Simplify the fraction 46\frac{4}{6} to its simplest form. Since both the numerator and the denominator are divisible by 2, we have 46=23\frac{4}{6} = \frac{2}{3}.
  • Step 2: Find the least common denominator (LCD) for the fractions 18\frac{1}{8} and 23\frac{2}{3}. The denominators are 8 and 3, so the LCD is 24.
  • Step 3: Convert both fractions to have the denominator of 24.
    • For 18\frac{1}{8}, multiply both the numerator and the denominator by 3 to get: 1×38×3=324 \frac{1 \times 3}{8 \times 3} = \frac{3}{24}.
    • For 23\frac{2}{3}, multiply both the numerator and the denominator by 8 to get: 2×83×8=1624 \frac{2 \times 8}{3 \times 8} = \frac{16}{24}.
  • Step 4: Subtract the numerators over the common denominator: 3241624=31624=1324\frac{3}{24} - \frac{16}{24} = \frac{3 - 16}{24} = \frac{-13}{24}.
  • Step 5: The fraction 1324\frac{-13}{24} is already in its simplest form since 13 is a prime number and does not divide 24.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is 1324-\frac{13}{24}.

From the given multiple-choice options, the correct choice is option 2:

1324 -\frac{13}{24}

.

3

Final Answer

1324 -\frac{13}{24}

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Rule: Find LCD before subtracting fractions with different denominators
  • Technique: Convert 18 \frac{1}{8} to 324 \frac{3}{24} and 23 \frac{2}{3} to 1624 \frac{16}{24}
  • Check: Verify 3241624=1324 \frac{3}{24} - \frac{16}{24} = \frac{-13}{24} is simplified ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Subtracting denominators along with numerators
    Don't subtract 8 - 6 = 2 for the denominator = wrong fraction structure! The denominator must stay as the common denominator (24). Always keep the LCD as your final denominator and only subtract the numerators.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

a is negative number.

b is negative number.

What is the sum of a+b?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why is my answer negative when I'm subtracting fractions?

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When you subtract a larger fraction from a smaller fraction, you get a negative result! Since 23 \frac{2}{3} is bigger than 18 \frac{1}{8} , the answer 1324 -\frac{13}{24} is negative.

Do I need to simplify 4/6 before finding the LCD?

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Yes, always simplify first! Simplifying 46 \frac{4}{6} to 23 \frac{2}{3} makes finding the LCD much easier and prevents calculation errors.

How do I find the LCD of 8 and 3?

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Since 8 and 3 have no common factors, multiply them together: 8 × 3 = 24. For numbers with no shared factors, the LCD is always their product.

Can I leave my answer as a positive fraction?

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No! The correct mathematical result is negative. Don't change the sign just because negative fractions look unusual - they're perfectly valid answers.

What if I can't tell which fraction is larger?

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Convert both fractions to the same denominator first! 18=324 \frac{1}{8} = \frac{3}{24} and 23=1624 \frac{2}{3} = \frac{16}{24} . Now you can easily see that 1624>324 \frac{16}{24} > \frac{3}{24} .

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