How do you simplify #5/6-1/8div1/2#?

1 Answer
EZ as pi
Dec 20, 2016

#7/12#

Explanation:

There are 2 terms, separated by the minus sign. Each term must simplify to a single answer before you can subtract, so do the division first:

#color(blue)(5/6) color(red)(-1/8 div1/2)#

#color(blue)(5/6) color(red)(-1/8 xx 2/1)" "larr# multiply by the reciprocal

#color(blue)(5/6) color(red)(-1/4)" "larr#now find a common denominator

#(10-3)/12 " "larr"# make equivalent fractions

#7/12#

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