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MAP Recommended Practice
Course: MAP Recommended Practice > Unit 34
Lesson 16: Adding and subtracting mixed numbers with unlike denominators- Adding mixed numbers: 19 3/18 + 18 2/3
- Subtracting mixed numbers: 7 6/9 - 3 2/5
- Add and subtract mixed numbers with unlike denominators (no regrouping)
- Adding mixed numbers with regrouping
- Subtracting mixed numbers with regrouping (unlike denominators)
- Add and subtract mixed numbers with unlike denominators (regrouping)
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Subtracting mixed numbers: 7 6/9 - 3 2/5
We can subtract two mixed numbers, by converting them to improper fractions. First, multiply the whole number by the denominator and add the numerator to get the improper fraction. Find a common denominator and adjust the numerators accordingly. Subtract the two improper fractions, and simplify the result if possible. Finally, convert the improper fraction back to a mixed number if desired. Created by Sal Khan.
Want to join the conversation?
- Why do we need to add and subtract fractions?(81 votes)
- Well, suppose your cooking, and you need, say, 2/3 of a cup of sugar. What if your only doing half of a recipe? You need to chop 2/3 in half. Or if your doing 2 times the recipe. You need to double 2/3. This is only one example, there are lots of others.(84 votes)
- If you have a whole number minus a fraction for example 3 - 2 2/3 how do you do this(16 votes)
- Think of the numbers as improper fractions. For ex: 9/3 - 8/3 = 1/3.
That way all you have to do is subtract the numerators.(13 votes)
- Why the minus sign for 3-2/5? I still don't get it.(13 votes)
- Do you know about negative numbers? If you, then please realize - 1 (or minus one) is also a -1 (negative one).(12 votes)
- this is hard I can't do some problems with this even though he explained it 😪😪😪😯😯😥😥 so can someone explain it much more simpilaier or easier to me?(9 votes)
- Okay, Error.
For example:
12 3/4 - 7 4/5 = ?
Here, find the LCM of both the denominators.
4 and 5's LCM is 20, so it should be 12 ?/20 - 7 ?/20.
Here, multiply both numerators by the number you multiplied the denominator to get to 20.
Since you multiplied 4 against 5, which is 20, multiply 3 against 5, the answer to which is 12 15/20.
Since you multiplied 5 against 4, which is 20, multiply 4 against 5, the answer to which is 7 16/20.
Now, subtract the numbers.
Here, you need to borrow 1 from 12.
Borrow it, and add 20/20 to 15. You now have 12 35/20. Subtract 7 16/20 from it.
12 35/20 - 7 16/20 = 5 19/20.
Voilá! You're done!
#QED
Hope this helps, Error.(16 votes)
- why is fractions so important?(5 votes)
- Fractions will become important when you get older. For example, if you are baking, you have to know what 1/2 is or 1/4.(11 votes)
- 46 1/3 - 8 7/12 =(7 votes)
- Note that 1/3 = 4/12.
So 46 1/3 - 8 7/12 = 46 4/12 - 8 7/12.
This becomes 46-8=38, but with 3/12 missing. So the answer is 37 9/12, which reduces to 37 3/4.
Have a blessed, wonderful day!(7 votes)
- hello i nee lots of help i dont know how to add fractions if anyone noews the answer can someone pleaes3e tell me sporry my kat is walkijg over ny jkeayboard so i cant ytype very well its quite an issue yes. sorry for speaking bad francais i am not familiar with argentina.(4 votes)
- Well first do 1/2+1/2 the denominator stays the same so add the 1+1 that’s 2 so the answer for that is 2/2 also known as a whole aka 1
1/3+1/5 to find a common denominator multiply the denominator that’s 15 so for 1/3 u multiply 3x5 to be 15 so u do 1x5 for the numerator for 1/5 you do 5x3 to be 15 so do 1x3 for numerator to find that. Add them up and u got your answer.
I hoped this helped srry if it’s late and long!(6 votes)
- when do we usually use the add and subtract fraction in real life?
😕😕😕(5 votes)- In the previous lessons, you learned that a fraction is part of a whole. Fractions show how much you have of something, like 1/2 of a tank of gas or 1/3 of a cup of water. In real life, you might need to add or subtract fractions. For example, have you ever walked 1/2 of a mile to work and then walked another 1/2 mile back?(5 votes)
- What happens if the first number is negative and you are subtracting them? Do you have to do something different?(3 votes)
- Yes you do. Example: -1/2 - 3/4
Since the fractions have the same sign, we add (follow me here). 1/2 = 2/4, and what is 2/4 + 3/4? 5/4, or 1 1/4.
Now, since we started with two negatives, make your answer negative.
-1/2 - 3/4 = - 1 1/4(9 votes)
- why do we need to find the common number and then either add or subtract. Why not divied and multilpy(5 votes)
- To multiply or divide, you do not need to do that. To multiply two fractions multiply their numerators and denominators. I know that this sounds confusing but it is true. Dividing fractions is harder. It requires taking the reciprocal of the second fraction and then multiplying.(0 votes)
Video transcript
Let's try to evaluate 7
and 6/9 minus 3 and 2/5. So like always, I like to
separate out the whole number parts from the fractional parts. This is the same thing as 7
plus 6/9 minus 3 minus 2/5. And the reason why I'm
saying minus 3 minus 2/5 is this is the same thing
as minus 3 plus 2/5. And so you distribute
the negative sign. You're subtracting a 3, and
then you're subtracting the 2/5. And so now we can worry
about the whole number parts, 7 minus 3. Well, 7 minus 3 is
going to give us 4. So that's going to give us 4. And then we're going
to have 6/9 minus 2/5. So let me think about
what 6/9 minus 2/5 are. 6/9 minus 2/5, well,
we're going to have to find a common denominator. So this is going to
be the same thing. And I think the least
common multiple of 9 and 5 is going to be 45. Literally, you then multiply. They have no common factors. So it's going to be over 45. To go from 9 to 45, I
have to multiply by 5. So I'm going to have to
multiply the numerator by 5. So 6 times 5 is 30. Then I'm going to subtract. To go from 5 to 45, I
had to multiply by 9. So I have to multiply
the numerator by 9 if I don't want to
change the value. So 2 times 9 is 18. And 30/45 minus 18/45 is
going to be something over 45. 30 minus 18 is 12. If I subtract these two
fractions right over here, I get 12/45. So it's 4 plus 12/45. Or if we wanted to write
it as a mixed number, this is equal to 4 and 12/45. But we're not done yet. We can simplify this further. 12 and 45 have common factors. They're both divisible by 3. Actually, they're both
divisible by-- well, I think we can divide
more after that. So let's see. If we divide the numerator by
3 and the denominator by 3, we end up with 4. And 12 divided by 3 is 4. And 45 divided by 3 is 15. 4 and 4/15. And actually, we're done. These two can't be
simplified anymore. 4 and 4/15.