Math  /  Numbers & Operations

QuestionVisualizing Fraction Subtra What is the difference? CLEAR 7385127 \frac{3}{8}-5 \frac{1}{2} 1581 \frac{5}{8} 1781 \frac{7}{8}
2182 \frac{1}{8} 2582 \frac{5}{8}

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

What is this asking? We need to subtract two mixed numbers and find the difference. Watch out! Remember to find a common denominator before subtracting fractions!

STEP 2

1. Convert to Improper Fractions
2. Find a Common Denominator
3. Subtract the Fractions
4. Convert Back to a Mixed Number

STEP 3

Alright, let's **kick things off** by converting these mixed numbers into improper fractions!
We take the whole number part and multiply it by the denominator, then add the numerator.
For 7387\frac{3}{8}, we have 78+3=56+3=597 \cdot 8 + 3 = 56 + 3 = 59, so our improper fraction is 598\frac{59}{8}.

STEP 4

Now, let's do the same for 5125\frac{1}{2}.
We have 52+1=10+1=115 \cdot 2 + 1 = 10 + 1 = 11, giving us 112\frac{11}{2}.

STEP 5

To subtract fractions, we need a common denominator.
We have 598\frac{59}{8} and 112\frac{11}{2}.
The **smallest common denominator** is **8**, since 2 divides evenly into 8.

STEP 6

We need to convert 112\frac{11}{2} to have a denominator of 8.
We can do this by multiplying the numerator and denominator by **4**: 11244=448\frac{11}{2} \cdot \frac{4}{4} = \frac{44}{8}.
Remember, multiplying by 44\frac{4}{4} is the same as multiplying by **1**, so it doesn't change the value of the fraction, just how it looks!

STEP 7

Now that we have a common denominator, we can subtract! 598448=59448=158\frac{59}{8} - \frac{44}{8} = \frac{59 - 44}{8} = \frac{15}{8}.
Boom!

STEP 8

Let's turn our improper fraction, 158\frac{15}{8}, back into a mixed number.
How many times does 8 go into 15?
It goes in **once** with a remainder of **7**.
So, our mixed number is 1781\frac{7}{8}.

STEP 9

The difference between 7387\frac{3}{8} and 5125\frac{1}{2} is 1781\frac{7}{8}.

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