Solve the Fraction Subtraction: 3/4 - 3/6

Fraction Subtraction with Different Denominators

Solve the following exercise:

3436=? \frac{3}{4}-\frac{3}{6}=\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 smallest common denominator
00:06 Therefore, we'll multiply each fraction by the second denominator to find the common denominator
00:09 We'll make sure to multiply both numerator and denominator
00:21 Let's calculate the multiplications
00:30 We'll divide by the common denominator
00:34 Let's calculate the numerator
00:38 Let's reduce the fraction as much as possible
00:41 We'll make sure to divide both numerator and denominator
00:46 And this is the solution to the problem

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

Solve the following exercise:

3436=? \frac{3}{4}-\frac{3}{6}=\text{?}

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve the subtraction of these two fractions, we follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Find the least common multiple (LCM) of the denominators 4 and 6. The LCM of 4 and 6 is 12.
  • Step 2: Convert each fraction to have this common denominator:
    • For 34\frac{3}{4}, multiply both the numerator and denominator by 3 to get 912\frac{9}{12}.
    • For 36\frac{3}{6}, multiply both the numerator and denominator by 2 to get 612\frac{6}{12}.
  • Step 3: Perform the subtraction: 912612=312\frac{9}{12} - \frac{6}{12} = \frac{3}{12}.
  • Step 4: Simplify the fraction 312\frac{3}{12}. The greatest common divisor (GCD) of 3 and 12 is 3. Divide both numerator and denominator by 3 to get 14\frac{1}{4}.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is 14 \frac{1}{4} .

3

Final Answer

14 \frac{1}{4}

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Common Denominator Rule: Find LCD of denominators before subtracting fractions
  • Technique: Convert 34 \frac{3}{4} to 912 \frac{9}{12} and 36 \frac{3}{6} to 612 \frac{6}{12}
  • Check: Verify 14=0.25 \frac{1}{4} = 0.25 and 3436=0.750.5=0.25 \frac{3}{4} - \frac{3}{6} = 0.75 - 0.5 = 0.25

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Subtracting numerators and denominators separately
    Don't subtract like 3346=02=0 \frac{3-3}{4-6} = \frac{0}{-2} = 0 ! This treats fractions like two separate numbers instead of single values. Always find a common denominator first, then subtract only the 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 3-3=0 and 4-6=-2?

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Because fractions represent single values, not separate parts! 34 \frac{3}{4} means "3 out of 4 equal parts" - you can't split this into separate operations.

How do I find the LCD of 4 and 6?

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List multiples of each number: 4: 4, 8, 12, 16... and 6: 6, 12, 18... The smallest common multiple is 12.

What if I can't remember how to convert fractions to common denominators?

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Ask yourself: "What do I multiply 4 by to get 12?" Answer: 3. So multiply both parts of 34 \frac{3}{4} by 3 to get 912 \frac{9}{12} .

Do I always need to simplify my final answer?

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Yes! Always check if your answer can be simplified. 312 \frac{3}{12} simplifies to 14 \frac{1}{4} by dividing both parts by 3.

Can I use decimals instead of finding LCD?

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You can convert to decimals (34=0.75 \frac{3}{4} = 0.75 , 36=0.5 \frac{3}{6} = 0.5 ), but you'll still need to convert back to a fraction for the final answer!

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