How to Subtract Mixed Numbers? (+FREE Worksheet!)

• Step 1: First, subtract the integers part: Subtract the whole number of the second mixed number from the whole number of the first mixed number.
• Step 2: In the next step, subtract the fraction part: Subtract the second fraction from the first one.
• Step 3: Write your answer in the lowest terms.

• Step 1: First, subtract the integers part: Subtract the whole number of the second mixed number from the whole number of the first mixed number.
• Step 2: In the next step, subtract the fraction part: Subtract the second fraction from the first one. Because the denominators are different, subtracting fractions becomes more difficult. you must first find the Least Common Denominator (LCD), and then you can subtract the second fraction from the first fraction.
• Step 3: Write your answer in the lowest terms.

• Step 1: Borrow \(1\) unit from the first integers part and add it to the fraction part, this will turn your fraction into a mixed number.
• Step 2: Convert this new mixture number to a fraction.
• Step 3: Use this result in your subtraction
• Step 4: Write your answer in the lowest terms.

Subtract Mixed Numbers For education statistics and research

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Subtract Mixed Numbers – Example 1:

Subtract. \( 2 \ \frac{3}{5} \ – \ 1 \ \frac{1}{3} = \)

Solution:

Rewriting our equation with parts separated, \(2 \ + \ \frac{3}{5} \ – \ 1 \ – \ \frac{1}{3}\)
Solving the whole number parts \(2 \ – \ 1=1\), Solving the fraction parts, \(\frac{3}{5} \ – \ \frac{1}{3}=\frac{(3×3) \ – \ (1×5)}{5×3}=\frac {9-5}{15} =\frac{4}{15}\)
Combining the whole and fraction parts, \(1 \ + \ \frac{4}{15}=1 \ \frac{4}{15}\)

Subtract Mixed Numbers – Example 2:

Subtract. \( 5 \ \frac{5}{8} \ – \ 2 \ \frac{1}{4} = \)

Solution:

Rewriting our equation with parts separated, \(5 \ +\ \frac{5}{8} \ – \ 2 \ – \ \frac{1}{4}\)
Solving the whole number parts \(5 \ – \ 2=3\), Solving the fraction parts, \(\frac{5}{8} \ – \ \frac{1}{4}=\frac{5 \ – \ (1 × 2)}{8}=\frac {5-2} {8} =\frac{3}{8}\)
Combining the whole and fraction parts, \(3 \ + \ \frac{3}{8}=3 \ \frac{3}{8}\)

Subtract Mixed Numbers – Example 3:

Subtract . \( 5 \ \frac{2}{3} \ – \ 2 \ \frac{1}{4} = \)

Solution:

Rewriting our equation with parts separated, \(5+\frac{2}{3}-2-\frac{1}{4}\)
Solving the whole number parts \(5-2=3\), Solving the fraction parts,

\(\frac{2}{3}-\frac{1}{4}=\frac{(2 × 4)-(1 × 3)}{3 × 4}= \frac{8-3}{12}\) \(=\)\(\frac{5}{12}\)
Combining the whole and fraction parts, \(3+\frac{5}{12}=3 \ \frac{5}{12}\)

Subtract Mixed Numbers – Example 4:

Subtract. \( 3 \ \frac{4}{5} \ – \ 1 \ \frac{1}{2} = \)

Solution:

Rewriting our equation with parts separated, \(3+\frac{4}{5}-1-\frac{1}{2}\)
Solving the whole number parts \(3-1=2\), Solving the fraction parts, \(\frac{4}{5}-\frac{1}{2}=\frac{(4 × 2)-(1 × 5)}{5× 2}=\frac {8-5} {10}= \frac{3}{10}\)
Combining the whole and fraction parts, \(2+\frac{3}{10}=2 \ \frac{3}{10}\)

Subtract Mixed Numbers – Exercises

Subtract Mixed Numbers

Subtract.

1. \(\color{blue}{4\frac{1}{2}-3\frac{1}{2}}\)
2. \(\color{blue}{3\frac{3}{8}-3\frac{1}{8}}\)
3. \(\color{blue}{6\frac{3}{5}-5\frac{1}{5}}\)
4. \(\color{blue}{2\frac{1}{3}-1\frac{2}{3}}\)
5. \(\color{blue}{6\frac{1}{6}-5\frac{1}{2}}\)
6. \(\color{blue}{3\frac{1}{3}-1\frac{1}{3}}\)

Download Adding and Subtracting Mixed Numbers Worksheet

1. \(\color{blue}{1}\)
2. \(\color{blue}{\frac{1}{4}}\)
3. \(\color{blue}{1\frac{2}{5}}\)
4. \(\color{blue}{\frac{2}{3}}\)
5. \(\color{blue}{\frac{2}{3}}\)
6. \(\color{blue}{2}\)

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