Math Drills

Subtracting Proper Fractions (Unlike Denominators)

A-3

Calculation

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What this worksheet covers

Grade: Grade 5 (Elementary School)
Topic: Fraction Subtraction and Mixed Operations
Worksheet: Subtracting Proper Fractions (Unlike Denominators)

The procedure of finding a common denominator and then subtracting one numerator from the other is made firm using only expressions whose answer settles into a proper fraction. Pairs whose difference can be written straight down mix with pairs to be simplified into lowest terms, Fill in the Blank keeps the denominator and turns one of the two numerators into a gap, and the word problems stay inside the same range.

How Fill in the Blank is worked back depends on whether the gap stands on the side being subtracted from or the side being taken away. Subtract the two visible fractions as they stand and a question whose gap is the number being subtracted from yields no whole number that fits. Write the figure found back into the gap and subtract again, and any disagreement with the given difference shows plainly.

Calculation in the subtracting direction starts here. In Subtracting Unlike Improper Fractions the side being subtracted from passes 1, and the labor of tidying the answer into mixed-number form is added.