SOLUTION: how do you solve (in detail- understanding) this 6 grade math problem... 4 1/5 -1 1/2

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Question 682970: how do you solve (in detail- understanding) this 6 grade math problem...
4 1/5
-1 1/2
Found 2 solutions by ReadingBoosters, mananth:
Answer by ReadingBoosters(3246) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
4 1%2F5
-1 1%2F2
---------------
First, create a common denominator to subtract the fractions
The least common multiple of 2 and 5 is 10, which is 2*5
Multiply BOTH the denominator and the numerator by the number necessary to get the common denominator of 10.
...
4%281%2F5%29%282%2F2%29 ==> 2%2Fhighlight%2810%29
-1%281%2F2%29%285%2F5%29 ==> 5%2Fhighlight%2810%29
-------------------------
There is not enough in the 2%2F5 to take away 5%2F10,
so you have to borrow 10%2F10, which is 1 from the 4
...
3cross%284%29%282%2F10%29%2B%2810%2F10%29==> 12%2F10
-15%2F10
-----------------------
Now there is enough to subtract, both the whole numbers and the numerators.
312%2F10
-15%2F10
---------------
27%2F10
.....................
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Answer by mananth(16946) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
%284+%281%2F5%29%29+-%281+%281%2F2%29%29
convert the mixed fraction into a simple fraction
%28%285%2A4%2B1%29%2F5%29+-%28%282%2A1%2B1%29%2F2%29


%2821%2F5%29+-%283%2F2%29
We have to equalize the denominator to enable us to add or subtract the numerators of the two fractions.
the denominators of the fractions are 5 &2
multiply both of them we get 10
This will be the common denominator
5 times 2 is 10
so multiply the numerator and denominator of first fraction by 2
2 times 5 is 10
& multiply and divide the second fraction by 5 to get 10 denominator
%2821%2F5%29%2A%282%2F2%29-%283%2F2%29%285%2F5%29
%2842%2F10%29-%2815%2F10%29
Since the denominators are same we can subtract the numerators.
%2842-15%29%2F10
%2827%2F10%29
There you are!