Solve the Expression: 2 - 1/2 in Basic Arithmetic

$2-\frac{1}{2}=$

To solve the problem of subtracting $\frac{1}{2}$ from the whole number $2$, we proceed as follows:

First, understand that the whole number $2$ can be considered as a fraction with a denominator of 2. This means that $2$ is equivalent to $\frac{4}{2}$. This step is crucial to ensure both numbers have a common denominator, facilitating the subtraction of fractions.

Now, subtract the fraction $\frac{1}{2}$ from $\frac{4}{2}$:

$\frac{4}{2} - \frac{1}{2} = \frac{4-1}{2} = \frac{3}{2}$

The fraction $\frac{3}{2}$ is improper because the numerator is larger than the denominator. Thus, we convert this into a mixed number, which is a combination of a whole number and a proper fraction. The mixed number form of $\frac{3}{2}$ is $1\frac{1}{2}$ because $2$ fits into $3$ once with a remainder of $1$.

Therefore, the result of $2-\frac{1}{2}$ is $\mathbf{1\frac{1}{2}}$.