How do you subtract and simplify 9-5 1/3?

1 Answer
Sarah C
Mar 29, 2016

3 2/3

Explanation:

Before we do any calculations, we need to make the fractions into the same form. As we have a whole number and and a mixed number, we can do this by turning both into improper (top-heavy) fractions.

We multiply the 9 by 3 as there are 3 thirds in a whole unit and 9 whole units.

9 = (9xx3)/3 = 27/3

Same as before, but this time there are 5 whole units. Then we add on the one third from before.

5 1/3 = ((5xx3) + 1)/3 = 16/3

So now we are taking away 16/3 from 27/3 which can be done by putting it all over 3 and doing a simple subtraction. We can only do this when the denominator (bottom part of the fraction) for both fractions are the same.

(27 - 16)/3 = 11/3

Then we just turn it into a mixed number again by seeing how many times 3 fits into 11 (so how many whole units there will be) then taking the remainder as our numerator (top part of the fraction).

11/3 = 3 2/3

Hope this helps; let me know if I can do anything else:)

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