document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=369964>Question 369964</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> I need to know how to use the symbols properly.  I am working on a problem for classthat I jsut started and very confused.  I have the answer but don't know how to write the formula.  I am to perform the operation and if possible simplify it.  3/8 - 1/5 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #263603 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><B>jim_thompson5910(35256)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=263603\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3%2F8-1%2F5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3%2F8-1%2F5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Start with the given expression\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "In order to subtract these two fractions, these fractions need to have a common denominator.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "In order to do that, we simply find that the LCM of 8 and 5 is 40 (note: if you need help with finding the LCM, check out this <a  rel=nofollow HREF=http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/divisibility/least-common-multiple.solver>solver</a>)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now we need to get each denominator to 40\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%285%2F5%29%283%2F8%29-1%2F5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%285%2F5%29%283%2F8%29-1%2F5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3%2F8 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3%2F8\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > by <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%285%2F5%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%285%2F5%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=15%2F40-1%2F5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"15%2F40-1%2F5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=3%2F8 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"3%2F8\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%285%2F5%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%285%2F5%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=15%2F40 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"15%2F40\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=15%2F40-%288%2F8%29%281%2F5%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"15%2F40-%288%2F8%29%281%2F5%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > by <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%288%2F8%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%288%2F8%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=15%2F40-8%2F40 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"15%2F40-8%2F40\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Multiply <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F5 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F5\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%288%2F8%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%288%2F8%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > to get <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=8%2F40 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"8%2F40\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Since both fractions have a common denominator of 40, we can now combine the fractions\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%2815-8%29%2F40 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%2815-8%29%2F40\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Combine the fractions\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=7%2F40 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"7%2F40\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > Subtract the numerators\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "For more help with fractions, check out <a  rel=nofollow HREF=\"http://www.algebra.com/algebra/homework/NumericFractions/fractions-solver.solver\">this solver</a>\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "If you need more help, email me at <a  rel=nofollow HREF=\"mailto:jim_thompson5910@hotmail.com?Subject=Algebra%20Help\">jim_thompson5910@hotmail.com</a>\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Also, feel free to check out my <a  rel=nofollow HREF=\"http://www.freewebs.com/jimthompson5910/home.html\">tutoring website</a>\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Jim </SPAN>\n" );
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