Q&A for How to Subtract Fractions from Whole Numbers

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If the whole number is 1, then how am I supposed to make it into a fraction if 1/1 is 1 whole?

Donagan

Top Answerer

As a simple example, let's say we're subtracting ¾ from 1. Convert 1 to 4/4. 4/4 - ¾ = ¼. If the whole number is something else, let's say 6, and you're subtracting ¾, convert the 6 to 24/4. 24/4 - ¾ = 21/4, or 5¼.

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Question

Can you help me with 5 5/6 - 2 2/3 step by step?

WOOHP

Community Answer

1. 5 5/6 - 2 2/3 = 5 5/6 - 2 4/6 2. 5 5/6 - 2/4/6 = 3 1/6

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Question

I'm confused. Can you please give an example?

Karianna Wood

Community Answer

Take 3 - 2/7, for example. What over 7 is 3? 21, because 7 x 3 = 21. So 3 - 2/7 is the same as 21/7 - 2/7. What is 21/7 - 3/7? 21 - 3 = 18. So 21/7 - 3/7 = 18/7. (Optional) Simplify 18/7, which is 2 4/7. Does that help?

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Question

How do I subtract 8 - 1/8?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Convert 8 to 64/8. 64/8 - 1/8 = 63/8, or 7 7/8.

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Question

How do I subtract a whole number and a mixed number?

Community Answer

Subtract the "number" part of the mixed number (i.e., if it was 2 3/4, then subtract 2), then subtract the fraction.

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Question

How do I subtract a whole number from a fraction?

Community Answer

Subtract it like a natural number. The whole number cannot be in lowest term

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Question

Three-eighths is equal to how many 64ths?

Community Answer

There are 8 sixty-fourths in one eighth, which means there are 3 x 8 or 24 sixty-fourths in three-eighths. 3/8 = 24/64.

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Question

How do I subtract 2/7 and 1/3 from 1?

Community Answer

Change the fractions so that they have equal denominators- 6/21 and 7/21- then add the top numbers- 6+7=13, so 13/21- then subtract that from 21/21- 21/21-13/21=8/21.

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Question

How do I calculate 3 1/7 - 1/2?

Donagan

Top Answerer

First convert the mixed number to an improper fraction. Then convert both fractions to equivalent fractions with like denominators. Then subtract the smaller numerator from the larger numerator, using the new denominator.

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Question

What if I have a proper fraction instead?

Community Answer

If you have a proper fraction, you still need to make sure both have the same denominators before adding or subtracting. The LCD rule still applies.

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Question

How do I can find the LCD?

Community Answer

To find the LCD, convert all integers and mixed numbers (mixed fractions) into fractions. Then find the least common multiple (LCM) of the denominators which is equal to the least common denominator (LCD). You can then rewrite each term as an equivalent fraction with the LCD.

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Question

How can I subtract a fraction from a decimal?

WikiHowUser20170728202545

Community Answer

Convert the decimal to a fraction. Then convert both fractions to fractions of like denominators. Subtract the numerators, and keep the denominator the same.

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Question

How do I subtract 11/2 - 3/4?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Convert 11/2 to 22/4. 22 - 3 = 19, which is the numerator of the answer, while 4 is the denominator. Convert to a mixed number if you want to.

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Question

How do I subtract 25 7/8 and 12?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Subtract 12 from 25, and keep the 7/8 as the fraction of a mixed number.

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Question

How can I find the answer to 20 - 13 3/5?

Community Answer

An easy method is to change 20 to 19 5/5, then proceed to subtraction. 19 5/5 - 13 3/5 is 6 2/5. You can check by going through the traditional method of converting 20 to 100/5 and 13 3/5 to 68/5; the result is 32/5, or 6 2/5.

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Question

How do I subtract 1/5 from 500?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Think of 500 as 499 5/5. Subtract 1/5 from the 5/5, and you're left with 499 4/5.

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Question

How do I subtract 1/2 from 5 1/4?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Change the mixed number to the improper fraction 21/4, and change ½ to 2/4. Then it's 21/4 - 2/4 = 19/4 = 4 3/4.

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Question

Why do I have to convert the whole number and make it a fraction?

Donagan

Top Answerer

The reason is that you can subtract a fraction only if the other number is also a fraction with the same denominator. So you must convert a whole number to an improper fraction with the same denominator as the fraction you're subtracting.

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Question

A container is full of water. If 21 gallons of water were removed from the container, it would be 1/3 full. How many gallons of water is the capacity of the container?

Donagan

Top Answerer

21 gallons represents 2/3 of the container's volume (because removing 21 gallons leaves 1/3 still inside). That means that 10½ gallons (half of 21) is 1/3 of the volume. If you combine 2/3 of the volume with 1/3 of the volume, you'd have a full container.

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Question

How do I subtract 20/103 and 80/103 from 1? The answer is 3/103, but how do I get that answer?

Donagan

Top Answerer

It appears that you've been asked to combine 20/103 and 80/103 and then subtract that sum from 1. 20/103 plus 80/103 equals 100/103. 1 can be expressed as 103/103. (103/103) - (100/103) = 3/103.

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Question

How do I subtract fractions?

Community Answer

Follow the instructions listed in the article above.

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Question

11 is 1/5 of what number?

Community Answer

Let x be the number we seek. Then 11 = (1/5)(x). Multiply both sides by 5 to get 55=x. Therefore 11 is 1/5 of 55.

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Question

How do I subtract -81/4 - 22/9?

Community Answer

Make both improper fractions have the lowest common denominator (-81/4 = -729/36, -22/9 = -88/36) then subtract ((-729 - 88) / 36 = -817/36), then simplify (-817/36 = -22*36/36 - 25/36 = -22 - 25/36 = -22 25/36).

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Question

How do I subtract 1 - 4/8?

Community Answer

You can tackle it in 2 ways: either simplify first then regroup then subtract (1 - 4/8 = 1 - 1/2 = 2/2 - 1/2 = 1/2), or regroup and subtract, then simplify (1 = 8/8. 8/8 - 4/8 = 4/8 = 1/2). Either way, the answer is 1/2.

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Question

What is the answer to 400 - 23/40?

Community Answer

The answer is 399 17/40. 400 = 16,000/40. 16,000/40 - 23/40 = 15,977/40. Simplified, this becomes 399 17/40.

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Question

What's the answer if the problem looks like this: 2 - 3/7 = ?

Donagan

Top Answerer

2 - 3/7 = 14/7 - 3/7 = 11/7 = 1 4/7.

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Question

How do I find X in X+2/3=5?

Donagan

Top Answerer

Subtract 2/3 from 5.

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Question

How do you subtract 5 - 5/6?

I_l1ke_gam3s

Community Answer

Change 5 to 30/6. (30 divided by 6 equals 5). Now you can just subtract the numerators: 30/6 - 5/6 = 25/6 = 4 1/6.

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Question

How can I subtract 14/20 from 12?

Donagan

Top Answerer

12 - 14/20 = 12 - 7/10 = 120/10 - 7/10 = 113/10 = 11 3/10.

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Question

2/4 - 6 3/4 = ______ how do we solve?

Donagan

Top Answerer

6 3/4 = 27/4. 2/4 - 27/4 = -25/4 = -6 1/4.

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