Solve the Fraction Equation: 5/6 - 1/3 - 2/12 Step-by-Step

Fraction Subtraction with Mixed Denominators

Solve the following exercise:

5613212=? \frac{5}{6}-\frac{1}{3}-\frac{2}{12}=\text{?}

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Solve
00:03 We want to find the least common denominator
00:06 Therefore we'll multiply by 2, 4 respectively to find the common denominator
00:09 Remember to multiply both numerator and denominator
00:21 Let's calculate the multiplications
00:30 Subtract under the common denominator
00:37 Let's calculate the numerator
00:50 Reduce the fraction as much as possible
00:53 Remember to divide both numerator and denominator
00:57 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

Solve the following exercise:

5613212=? \frac{5}{6}-\frac{1}{3}-\frac{2}{12}=\text{?}

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve the subtraction of three fractions, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Identify the denominators of the fractions: 6, 3, and 12.
  • Step 2: Determine the least common denominator (LCD), which is the least common multiple of 6, 3, and 12. The LCD is 12.
  • Step 3: Convert each fraction to an equivalent fraction with the LCD of 12.
    • 56=5×26×2=1012 \frac{5}{6} = \frac{5 \times 2}{6 \times 2} = \frac{10}{12}
    • 13=1×43×4=412 \frac{1}{3} = \frac{1 \times 4}{3 \times 4} = \frac{4}{12}
    • 212 \frac{2}{12} remains 212\frac{2}{12}.
  • Step 4: Perform the subtraction with these equivalent fractions:
    1012412212 \frac{10}{12} - \frac{4}{12} - \frac{2}{12} .
  • Step 5: Subtract the fractions:
    104212=412 \frac{10 - 4 - 2}{12} = \frac{4}{12} .
  • Step 6: Simplify the resulting fraction by dividing both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor, which is 4:
    412=4÷412÷4=13 \frac{4}{12} = \frac{4 \div 4}{12 \div 4} = \frac{1}{3} .

Therefore, the solution to the problem is 13 \frac{1}{3} .

3

Final Answer

13 \frac{1}{3}

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • LCD Method: Find least common denominator before subtracting fractions
  • Convert: Change 5/6 to 10/12 by multiplying by 2/2
  • Verify: Simplify final answer 4/12 = 1/3 using GCD ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Subtracting denominators along with numerators
    Don't subtract 5/6 - 1/3 as (5-1)/(6-3) = 4/3! This ignores that fractions need common denominators first. Always find LCD, convert all fractions, then subtract only numerators.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

\( \frac{1}{3}+\frac{1}{4}= \)

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why can't I just subtract the fractions as they are?

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You can only subtract fractions when they have the same denominator. Think of it like this: you can't subtract 5 apples from 6 oranges directly - you need to convert them to the same unit first!

How do I find the LCD of 6, 3, and 12?

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List the multiples: 6: 6, 12, 18... 3: 3, 6, 9, 12... 12: 12, 24... The smallest number that appears in all lists is 12.

What if I forget to simplify my final answer?

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Your answer isn't wrong, just not in simplest form. 412 \frac{4}{12} equals 13 \frac{1}{3} , but the simplified version is cleaner and preferred.

Do I always need to convert ALL fractions to the LCD?

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Yes! Every fraction in the problem must have the same denominator before you can add or subtract. In this case, 212 \frac{2}{12} was already using the LCD of 12.

How do I check if my LCD is correct?

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The LCD should be divisible by all original denominators. Check: 12 ÷ 6 = 2 ✓, 12 ÷ 3 = 4 ✓, 12 ÷ 12 = 1 ✓. All whole numbers means 12 is correct!

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