SOLUTION: How to subtract fractions and How to do the simplest form?

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Question 529447: How to subtract fractions and How to do the simplest form?
Answer by KMST(5328) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
SHORT INSTRUCTIONS
You can make equivalent fractions by multiplying or dividing the top and bottom numbers by the same number.
7%2F14=1%2F2=3%2F6
To add or subtract fractions you need to use equivalent fractions so that the bottom numbers are the same.
5%2F6-1%2F2=5%2F6-3%2F6=2%2F6
The simplest form of a fraction is the one with the smallest possible numbers at top and bottom.
2%2F6=1%2F3
FULL EXPLANATION
Fractions are ratios. If a survey of 100 people finds that 25 of them likes red wine, you could say that 25 out of a 100 people like red wine, or that
25%2F100 like red wine.
You could also say that 1 of every 4 people, 1%2F4
like red wine.
It is the same ratio. The fractions 1%2F4 and 25%2F100 are equivalent.
They represent the same rational number.
There are infinite equivalent ways to write each rational number.
One out of four means two out of eight, three out of 12, four out of 16, and so on
1%2F4=2%2F8=3%2F12=4%2F16=5%2F20=6%2F24 ....
You can make equivalent fractions by multiplying or dividing the top and bottom numbers by the same number.
In the fraction 1%2F4
the number 1 on top is called the numerator and 4 at the bottom is called denominator because it gives the fraction its name (1 fourth).
The simplest form to write that rational number is 1%2F4
and we say that it is in simplest form, or in simplest terms.
However, it is often useful to be able to express things in different ways.
A pizza could be cut in 6 equal slices and each slice would be 1%2F6 of the pizza.
A 2-slice portion would be
2%2F6=1%2F3 of the pizza.
A 3-slice portions is
3%2F6=1%2F2 of the pizza.
The whole pizza is
6%2F6=1%2F1=1 pizza.
When adding, or subtracting, or comparing, it makes sense to compare in terms of equivalent objects, like equivalent portions.
If 5 out of 6 slices are in the pizza box %285%2F6%29pizza
and someone wants a portion that is half a pizza %281%2F2%29pizza
what you have left is
5%2F6-1%2F2=5%2F6-3%2F6=2%2F6=1%2F3
because 3 out of 6 slices is one half 1%2F2=3%2F6
and 2 out of 6 slices is one third 2%2F6=1%2F3