Solve the Fraction Equation: 3/3 minus 1/3

Q: Why don't I subtract the denominators too?

The denominator tells you what size pieces you're working with. Both fractions have thirds, so you're still working with thirds after subtraction. Only the number of pieces (numerator) changes!

Q: What does 3/3 equal as a whole number?

$ \frac{3}{3} = 1 $ because any number divided by itself equals 1. So this problem is really 1 minus $ \frac{1}{3} $, which gives $ \frac{2}{3} $.

Q: How do I know if my fraction answer can be simplified?

Check if the numerator and denominator share any common factors. Since 2 and 3 share no common factors other than 1, $ \frac{2}{3} $ is already in lowest terms.

Q: Can I convert this to a decimal instead?

Yes! $ \frac{2}{3} $ equals approximately 0.667, but the exact fraction form $ \frac{2}{3} $ is usually preferred in math problems.

Q: What if the denominators were different?

Then you'd need to find a common denominator first! But since both fractions have 3 in the denominator, you can subtract directly. Lucky you!

Fraction Subtraction with Like Denominators

Solve the following exercise:

$\frac{3}{3}-\frac{1}{3}=\text{?}$

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:00 Solve

00:03 First, let's mark the number of squares we have according to the given data

00:06 Now let's subtract (remove) the number of squares according to the corresponding fraction

00:14 The remaining number of squares is the numerator of the answer

00:18 The denominator of the answer equals the number of parts we divided the whole into

00:21 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

Solve the following exercise:

$\frac{3}{3}-\frac{1}{3}=\text{?}$

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, let's follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify and understand the problem
Step 2: Analyze the structure of the fractions involved
Step 3: Perform subtraction of like fractions

Now, let's work through each step:

Step 1: The problem asks us to subtract two fractions: $\frac{3}{3}$ and $\frac{1}{3}$ . These fractions have the same denominator, which means they are "like" fractions.

Step 2: In subtraction of fractions with like denominators, we only need to subtract the numerators while keeping the denominator the same. Let's set up the expression:

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

Step 3: Subtract the numerators:

$3 - 1 = 2$

So, the result of the subtraction is $\frac{2}{3}$ .

Therefore, the solution to the problem is $\frac{2}{3}$ .

Final Answer

$\frac{2}{3}$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: When denominators are the same, subtract only the numerators
Technique: $\frac{3}{3} - \frac{1}{3} = \frac{3-1}{3} = \frac{2}{3}$
Check: Verify that $\frac{2}{3} + \frac{1}{3} = \frac{3}{3} = 1$ ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Subtracting denominators along with numerators
Don't subtract both parts like $\frac{3-1}{3-3} = \frac{2}{0}$ = undefined! This creates division by zero and is mathematically impossible. Always keep the same denominator and only subtract the numerators.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Solve the following exercise:

$\frac{3}{2}-\frac{1}{2}=\text{?}$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why don't I subtract the denominators too?

The denominator tells you what size pieces you're working with. Both fractions have thirds, so you're still working with thirds after subtraction. Only the number of pieces (numerator) changes!

What does 3/3 equal as a whole number?

$\frac{3}{3} = 1$ because any number divided by itself equals 1. So this problem is really 1 minus $\frac{1}{3}$ , which gives $\frac{2}{3}$ .

How do I know if my fraction answer can be simplified?

Check if the numerator and denominator share any common factors. Since 2 and 3 share no common factors other than 1, $\frac{2}{3}$ is already in lowest terms.

Can I convert this to a decimal instead?

Yes! $\frac{2}{3}$ equals approximately 0.667, but the exact fraction form $\frac{2}{3}$ is usually preferred in math problems.

What if the denominators were different?

Then you'd need to find a common denominator first! But since both fractions have 3 in the denominator, you can subtract directly. Lucky you!

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