Question 769274: 2 5/2 - 2 3/2
Answer by DrBeeee(684)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! I assume you are asked to subtract two mixed numbers, 2 5/2 and 2 3/2. The best approach (therefore the one to learn) is to convert both mixed numbers to improper fractions (we rarely work with mixed numbers in math) and get
(1) 2 5/2 = (2*2 + 5)/2 = (4 + 5)/2 = 9/2 and
(2) 2 3/2 = (2*2 + 3)/2 = (4 + 3)/2 = 7/2
Now subtract (2) from (1) and get
(3) 9/2 - 7/2 = 2/2 = 1, note that (1) and (2) have the same denominator, 2, so we can just subtract the numerators to get the result in (3).
I prefer the above approach over subtracting the whole numbers and the fractions separately as shown in some primary text books. Especially when you subtract a larger fraction from a smaller fraction and get a negative fraction. It's too messy so just do as I do and convert to improper fractions.
Answer: 2 5/2 - 2 3/2 = 1
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