SOLUTION: Fractions can be subtracted from a whole number 3-1/2; regroup 3 to 2 2/2 3-1/3; regroup 3 to 2 3/3 3-5/6; regroup 3 to 2 6/6 Pls help me solve this

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Question 976753: Fractions can be subtracted from a whole number
3-1/2; regroup 3 to 2 2/2
3-1/3; regroup 3 to 2 3/3
3-5/6; regroup 3 to 2 6/6
Pls help me solve this

Answer by Edwin McCravy(20054)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
We are learning how to make a whole number look exactly like a mixed
number with a whole part and a fraction part, so that we can subtract
from it.  


1. We are borrowing 1 from the 3, leaving 2, and then breaking the
1 that we borrowed into 2 halves.




2. We are borrowing 1 from the 3, leaving 2, and this time we are breaking 
the 1 that we borrowed into 3 thirds.



3. We are borrowing 1 from the 3, leaving 2, and this time we are breaking 
the 1 that we borrowed into 6 sixths.



We can always borrow 1 from the whole number, then break the 1 that we 
borrow from the whole number into any of these that we need in order to
be able to subtract a fraction from it:

2 halves, 3 thirds, 4 fourths, 5 fifths, 6 sixths, 7 sevenths, etc., etc.

That is, we can write the whole number:

 as  or as  or even , whatever we need
it to be written as, so we can subtract a fraction from it.

 as  or as  or even , whatever we 
need it to be written as, so we can subtract a fraction from it.


Edwin

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