Solve the Fraction Equation: 4/5 minus 1/5

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

The denominator tells you what size pieces you're working with. Since both fractions have fifths, you're working with the same size pieces. You only subtract how many pieces (the numerators).

Q: What if I got 2/5 as my answer?

That means you might have subtracted 1 - 4 = -3 instead of 4 - 1 = 3. Remember: the first number comes first in subtraction! $ \frac{4}{5} - \frac{1}{5} $ means 4 minus 1.

Q: How can I visualize this problem?

Imagine a pizza cut into 5 equal slices. You start with 4 slices and eat 1 slice. You're left with 3 slices out of 5, which is $ \frac{3}{5} $!

Q: Do I need to simplify 3/5?

No! $ \frac{3}{5} $ is already in simplest form because 3 and 5 share no common factors other than 1. The answer is ready as-is.

Q: What if the denominators were different?

Then you'd need to find a common denominator first! But in this problem, both fractions already have the same denominator (5), so you can subtract directly.

Fraction Subtraction with Same Denominators

Solve the following exercise:

$\frac{4}{5}-\frac{1}{5}=\text{?}$

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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

00:07 Now subtract (remove) the number of squares according to the corresponding fraction

00:11 The remaining number of squares is the numerator of the answer

00:14 The denominator of the answer equals the number of parts we divided the whole into

00:18 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:

$\frac{4}{5}-\frac{1}{5}=\text{?}$

Step-by-step solution

To solve this subtraction of fractions problem, we'll follow the outlined steps:

Step 1: Identify the fractions involved: $\frac{4}{5}$ and $\frac{1}{5}$ .
Step 2: Ensure both fractions have the same denominator: $5$ .
Step 3: Subtract the numerators directly, since the denominators are identical.
Step 4: Subtract the numerator of the second fraction from the numerator of the first: $4 - 1 = 3$ .
Step 5: Place the result over the original common denominator: $\frac{3}{5}$ .

The solution to the problem $\frac{4}{5} - \frac{1}{5}$ is $\frac{3}{5}$ .

Final Answer

$\frac{3}{5}$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: When denominators are identical, subtract only the numerators
Technique: Keep denominator 5, subtract numerators: 4 - 1 = 3
Check: Convert to decimals: 4/5 = 0.8, 1/5 = 0.2, so 0.8 - 0.2 = 0.6 = 3/5 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Subtracting denominators along with numerators
Don't subtract 4/5 - 1/5 = 3/0! This creates an undefined result because you're incorrectly subtracting denominators. Always keep the common denominator unchanged 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. Since both fractions have fifths, you're working with the same size pieces. You only subtract how many pieces (the numerators).

What if I got 2/5 as my answer?

That means you might have subtracted 1 - 4 = -3 instead of 4 - 1 = 3. Remember: the first number comes first in subtraction! $\frac{4}{5} - \frac{1}{5}$ means 4 minus 1.

How can I visualize this problem?

Imagine a pizza cut into 5 equal slices. You start with 4 slices and eat 1 slice. You're left with 3 slices out of 5, which is $\frac{3}{5}$ !

Do I need to simplify 3/5?

No! $\frac{3}{5}$ is already in simplest form because 3 and 5 share no common factors other than 1. The answer is ready as-is.

What if the denominators were different?

Then you'd need to find a common denominator first! But in this problem, both fractions already have the same denominator (5), so you can subtract directly.

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