How to Subtract Fractions from Whole Numbers

Co-authored by David Jia

Last Updated: September 28, 2024 Fact Checked

Subtracting fractions from whole numbers isn't as hard as it looks. There are two main ways to go about it: you can either convert the whole number into a fraction, or subtract 1 from that whole number and convert the 1 into a fraction with the same base as the fraction you're subtracting from it. Once you have two fractions with the same base, you can start to subtract. Both methods will help you.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Subtracting Fractions from Whole Numbers

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1
Convert the whole number to a fraction. To do this, give the whole number a denominator of 1. ^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Example: $8-{\frac {4}{5}}$
- $={\frac {8}{1}}-{\frac {4}{5}}$
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2
Convert to fractions of like denominators. The original fraction's denominator is also the least common denominator (LCD) of the two fractions. Multiply the top and bottom of the "whole number fraction" by this number so the fractions have the same denominator. ^{[2]
X
Research source}
- ${\frac {8}{1}}-{\frac {4}{5}}$
- $={\frac {8*5}{1*5}}-{\frac {4}{5}}$
- $={\frac {40}{5}}-{\frac {4}{5}}$
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3
Subtract the numerators. Now that the fractions have the same denominators, you can treat the numerators as a normal subtraction problem: ^{[3]
X
Research source}
- ${\frac {40}{5}}-{\frac {4}{5}}$
- $={\frac {40-4}{5}}$
- = ${\frac {36}{5}}$
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4
Convert to a mixed number (optional) . If your answer is an improper fraction, you may need to rewrite it as a mixed number: ^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Example: Rewrite ${\frac {36}{5}}$ as a mixed number.
- How many times does 5 fit evenly into 36? 5 x 7 = 35, so the whole number portion is 7 .
- What's left over? The whole number portion is equivalent to ${\frac {35}{5}}$ , so solve ${\frac {36}{5}}$ - ${\frac {35}{5}}$ = ${\frac {1}{5}}$
- Combine the whole number and fraction: ${\frac {36}{5}}$ = $7{\frac {1}{5}}$

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Alternate Method

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Did you see how the method above converts the whole number into a fraction, then converts back to a mixed number at the end? This method lets you skip some of that so the fraction only involves smaller numbers.
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2
Convert improper fractions to mixed numbers . Skip this step if your fraction is not improper. (An improper fraction has a larger number on top than on bottom.) ^{[5]
X
Research source}
- Example: $11-{\frac {4}{3}}$
- $=11-1{\frac {1}{3}}$
- $=10-{\frac {1}{3}}$
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3
Separate the whole number into 1 and another whole number. For example, rewrite 5 as 4 + 1, or rewrite 22 as 21 + 1.
- $10-{\frac {1}{3}}$
- $=9+1-{\frac {1}{3}}$
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4
Convert the 1 into a fraction. At this point we're using the method above to solve the part of the problem in the form "1 - (fraction)". The other whole number will stay the same for the rest of the problem.
- $=9+1-{\frac {1}{3}}$
- $=9+{\frac {1}{1}}-{\frac {1}{3}}$
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5
Multiply to give the fractions like denominators. As described above, multiply the top and bottom of your new fraction so it has the same denominator as the original fraction.
- $=9+{\frac {1*3}{1*3}}-{\frac {1}{3}}$
- $=9+{\frac {3}{3}}-{\frac {1}{3}}$
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6
Combine the two fractions. Subtract the numerators to solve the fraction part of the equation.
- $=9+{\frac {3-1}{3}}$
- $=9+{\frac {2}{3}}$
- $=9{\frac {2}{3}}$

Practice Problems and Answers

Practice Problems to Subtract Fractions from Whole Numbers

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Question

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

Donagan

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

WOOHP

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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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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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