How to subtract fractions

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SSAT Upper Level Quantitative › How to subtract fractions

Questions 1 - 10

1

What is the result of this operation?

$\frac{3}{4}-\frac{1}{4}=?$

$\frac{1}{2}$

$\frac{3}{4}$

$\frac{1}{4}$

$\frac{2}{7}$

Explanation

Since the denominators are exactly the same, we can just subtract the tops.

So

$\frac{3}{4}-\frac{1}{4}=\frac{2}{4}$

By reducing we get

$\frac{1}{2}$

2

What is the result of this operation?

$\frac{2}{7}-\frac{1}{7}=?$

$\frac{1}{7}$

$\frac{2}{7}$

$\frac{3}{7}$

$\frac{4}{7}$

Explanation

Since the denominators are the same, we can just subtract the numerators.

So

$\frac{2}{7}-\frac{1}{7}=\frac{1}{7}$

3

What is the result of this operation?

$\frac{4}{9}-\frac{1}{9}=?$

$\frac{1}{3}$

$\frac{2}{9}$

$\frac{1}{9}$

$\frac{4}{9}$

Explanation

Since the denominators are the same, we can just subtract the numerators.

$\frac{4}{9}-\frac{1}{9}=\frac{3}{9}$

By reducing our result, we get

$\frac{1}{3}$

4

What is the result of this operation?

$\frac{2}{9}-\frac{2}{9}=?$

$\frac{4}{9}$

Explanation

Since the denominators are the same, we can just subtract the numerators.

$\frac{2}{9}-\frac{2}{9}=\frac{0}{9}$

The result can just be reduced to

5

What is the result of this operation?

$\frac{1}{6}-\frac{1}{3}=?$

$-\frac{1}{6}$

$\frac{1}{6}$

$-\frac{1}{3}$

$\frac{1}{3}$

$\frac{1}{12}$

Explanation

Since the denominators are different, we need to transform them into the same denominator.

So

$\frac{1}{6}-\frac{1}{3}=?$

becomes

$\frac{1}{6}-\frac{1*2}{3*2}=?$

$\frac{1}{6}-\frac{2}{6}=?$

Now subtract the numerators

$\frac{1}{6}-\frac{2}{6}=\frac{-1}{6}$

6

What is the result of the operation

$\frac{4}{5}-\frac{3}{5}=?$

$\frac{1}{5}$

$\frac{3}{5}$

$\frac{4}{5}$

$\frac{2}{5}$

Explanation

Since the denominators are the exact same, we can just subtract the numerators.

$\frac{4}{5}-\frac{3}{5}=\frac{1}{5}$

7

What is the result of this operation

$\frac{4}{13}-\frac{2}{13}=?$

$\frac{2}{13}$

$\frac{1}{13}$

$\frac{3}{13}$

$\frac{4}{13}$

$\frac{5}{13}$

Explanation

Since the denominators are the exact same, we can just subtract the numerators.

$\frac{4}{13}-\frac{2}{13}=\frac{2}{13}$

8

What is the result of this operation

$\frac{6}{6}-\frac{3}{6}=?$

$\frac{1}{2}$

$\frac{1}{3}$

$\frac{1}{5}$

$\frac{1}{3}$

$\frac{9}{6}$

Explanation

Since the denominators are the same, we can just subtract the numerators.

$\frac{6}{6}-\frac{3}{6}=\frac{3}{6}$

which we can reduce to

$\frac{1}{2}$

9

What is the result of this operation

$\frac{2}{7}-\frac{3}{7}=?$

$-\frac{1}{7}$

$\frac{1}{7}$

$\frac{2}{7}$

$-\frac{2}{7}$

Explanation

Since the denominators are the same, we can just subtract the numerators.

$\frac{2}{7}-\frac{3}{7}=\frac{-1}{7}$

10

Janice had $\frac{3}{4}$ of a cup of milk. If she used $\frac{1}{12}$ cup to make some scrambled eggs, how much of a cup of milk does she have left?

$\frac{2}{3}$

$\frac{1}{3}$

$\frac{1}{4}$

$\frac{3}{5}$

Explanation

Subtract the two fractions. To subtract them, they must have a common denominator. Multiply the numerator and denominator of $\frac{3}{4}$ by to create a common denominator of , then subtract the numerators and reduce the resulting fraction.

$\frac{3}{4}-\frac{1}{12}=\frac{9}{12}-\frac{1}{12}=\frac{8}{12}=\frac{2}{3}$

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