Solve the following exercise:
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Solve the following exercise:
To solve this subtraction problem, let's follow these steps:
Now, let's work through each step:
Step 1: The denominators are 4 and 6. The LCD of 4 and 6 is 12, since 12 is the smallest number divisible by both 4 and 6.
Step 2: Convert each fraction to this common denominator.
- Convert to have a denominator of 12. We multiply both the numerator and denominator by 3:
.
- Convert to have a denominator of 12. We multiply both the numerator and denominator by 2:
.
Step 3: Subtract the fractions:
.
Step 4: Simplify the result:
The fraction simplifies to by dividing both numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor, which is 2.
Therefore, the solution to the problem is .
Solve the following exercise:
\( \frac{8}{5}-\frac{4}{5}=\text{?} \)
Because fractions represent parts of different wholes! means 2 parts out of 4, while means 2 parts out of 6. You need a common denominator to compare them fairly.
List the multiples of each number: 4, 8, 12, 16... and 6, 12, 18, 24... The smallest number that appears in both lists is your LCD!
That's okay! Not all fraction answers can be simplified. Just make sure your numerator and denominator don't share any common factors greater than 1.
You could, but fractions are often more exact. For example, is exact, but 0.1666... as a decimal goes on forever!
To keep the fraction's value the same! Multiplying top and bottom by the same number is like multiplying by 1, so .
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