Subtracting Fractions - Example

BASICS OF SUBTRACTING FRACTIONS

Subtracting fractions is an important mathematical skill that students acquire in elementary school. This skill is key to understanding how to take away a part of a whole or compare different parts of a whole. Fractions are composed of two main parts: the numerator, which is the top number, and the denominator, which is the bottom number. The numerator tells us how many parts of the whole we have, and the denominator tells us into how many equal parts the whole is divided.

When subtracting fractions with like denominators, the process is quite simple. We subtract the numerators from each other, while the denominator remains unchanged. This is because the same denominator means that all the parts being considered are of equal size. For example, if we subtract 1/4 from 3/4, we subtract the numerator 1 from 3 (3-1=2), while the denominator 4 remains the same, resulting in 2/4 (which simplifies to 1/2).

If, however, we are subtracting fractions with different denominators, the process is more complex. First, we must find a common denominator, which is a number divisible by both (or all) of the denominators (typically the least common multiple). Once we have adjusted the fractions so they have the same denominator, we can then subtract the numerators. This step requires more arithmetic operations but is crucial for accurate subtraction.

In addition to these techniques, it is also important to understand how to simplify the result of the subtraction. Sometimes the result of subtracting fractions is a fraction that can be further simplified. We do this by finding the greatest common divisor (GCD) of the numerator and the denominator and dividing both numbers by it.

This technique is useful in many everyday situations, such as cooking, measuring distances, or solving mathematical problems. Understanding this concept is crucial for developing good mathematical skills and for a better understanding of the world around us.

EXAMPLE

For a practical example, let's take the fractions 5/6 and 1/6. Since both fractions have the same denominator, we can directly subtract the numerators:

5/6 – 1/6 = (5 – 1) / 6 = 4/6.

This result can be further simplified to 2/3, as both the numerator and the denominator are divisible by 2. Thus, the final result of the subtraction is 2/3, which represents the difference between the fractions 5/6 and 1/6.