Solve the following exercise:
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Solve the following exercise:
To solve the problem of subtracting from , we need a common denominator.
First, find the least common denominator (LCD) of 5 and 4, which is 20. This is done by multiplying the denominators: .
Next, convert each fraction to an equivalent fraction with the denominator of 20:
Now perform the subtraction with these equivalent fractions:
The resulting fraction, , is already in its simplest form.
Therefore, the solution to the subtraction is .
Checking against the multiple-choice answers, the correct choice is the first one: .
Solve the following:
\( \frac{5}{9}:\frac{7}{18}= \)
Since 5 and 4 share no common factors (they're relatively prime), their LCD is simply 5 × 4 = 20. For other fractions, you might need to find the actual least common multiple.
Fractions represent parts of a whole. You can only combine parts when they're the same size! Think of it like trying to subtract 3 slices of a 5-piece pizza from 1 slice of a 4-piece pizza - you need equal-sized pieces first.
That's okay! Large denominators are normal when working with fractions. Just be careful with your arithmetic. You can always simplify at the end if the numerator and denominator share common factors.
Check if the numerator and denominator share any common factors. For , since 7 is prime and doesn't divide 20, it's already simplified!
While possible, it's often messier! and gives 0.35, but converting back to requires extra steps. LCD method is usually cleaner!
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