Subtract.
$\frac{7}{8}-\frac{-1}{2}=$
Answer (2)
To subtract 8 7 − 2 − 1 , we rewrite the subtraction as addition, resulting in 8 7 + 2 1 . After finding a common denominator and adding the fractions, the answer is 8 11 .
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Rewrite the subtraction as addition: 8 7 − 2 − 1 = 8 7 + 2 1 .
Find a common denominator: 2 1 = 8 4 .
Add the fractions: 8 7 + 8 4 = 8 11 .
The final answer is 8 11 .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem We are asked to subtract two fractions: 8 7 and 2 − 1 . The expression is 8 7 − 2 − 1 .
Rewriting Subtraction as Addition We need to compute the result of the subtraction 8 7 − 2 − 1 . To subtract a negative number, we can rewrite the subtraction as addition: 8 7 − 2 − 1 = 8 7 + 2 1 .
Finding a Common Denominator To add the two fractions, we need to find a common denominator. The least common multiple of 8 and 2 is 8. We rewrite the fraction 2 1 with a denominator of 8: 2 1 = 2 × 4 1 × 4 = 8 4 .
Adding the Fractions Now we can add the two fractions: 8 7 + 8 4 = 8 7 + 4 = 8 11 .
Final Answer The resulting fraction is 8 11 . This is an improper fraction, meaning the numerator is greater than the denominator. We can leave it as an improper fraction or convert it to a mixed number. In this case, we will leave it as an improper fraction. The final answer is 8 11 .
Examples
Fractions are used in everyday life, such as when cooking, measuring ingredients, or splitting a bill with friends. Understanding how to add and subtract fractions is essential for accurate calculations in these situations. For example, if you have 8 7 of a pizza and your friend eats 2 1 of the pizza, you can calculate how much pizza is left by subtracting the fractions: 8 7 − 2 1 = 8 3 .
