# Subtraction of Fractions

Go back to  'Fractions'

 1 Introduction to Fractions 2 Steps to Subtracting Fractions 3 Subtracting Fractions with Same Denominator 4 Subtract Fractions with Different Denominators 5 Subtracting Fractions with Whole Numbers 6 Subtracting Fractions with Variables 7 Important Notes 8 Solved Examples 9 Practice Questions 10 Tips and Tricks 11 Maths Olympiad Sample Papers 12 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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## Introduction to Fractions

Fractions are part of a whole. Before moving to the subtraction of fractions, let us revise about fractions here

## Steps to Subtracting Fractions

We have learnt to subtract whole numbers (example: $$4 -2 = 2$$).

Similarly, we can subtract fractions.

Subtracting Fractions include: 

• Subtracting fractions with whole numbers
\begin{align} \left(3\frac {1}{2} - 2 \right) \end{align}
• Subtracting fractions with like denominators
\begin{align} \left(\frac {3}{4} - \frac {1}{4} \right) \end{align}
• Subtracting fractions with different denominators
\begin{align} \left(\frac {3}{5} - \frac {1}{2} \right) \end{align}
• Subtracting  fractions with variables
\begin{align} \left(\frac {3}{5} x - \frac {1}{4}x \right) \end{align}

## Subtracting Fractions with the Same Denominator

Let us subtract the fractions \begin{align} \frac {2}{5} \end{align} and \begin{align} \frac {1}{5} \end{align} using rectangular models.

We will represent \begin{align} \frac {2}{5} \end{align}  in this model by shading $$2$$ out of $$5$$ parts.

We will further shade out $$1$$ part from our shaded parts of the model to represent removing \begin{align} \frac {1}{5} \end{align}

We are now left with $$1$$ part in the shaded parts of the model.

Therefore,

\begin{align} \frac {2}{5} \end{align} - \begin{align} \frac {1}{5} \end{align} = \begin{align} \frac {1}{5} \end{align}

## Subtract Fractions with Different Denominators

Let us understand how to subtract unlike fractions using the area model.

\begin{align} \frac {3}{5} \end{align} - \begin{align} \frac {1}{3} \end{align}

This indicates that we have to remove \begin{align} \frac {1}{3}^{rd} \end{align} part from \begin{align} \frac {3}{5} \end{align}

Let us use our rectangle model and represent \begin{align} \frac {3}{5} \end{align} as shown.

\begin{align} \frac {1}{3} \end{align}  when represented vertically will have $$1$$ column shaded out of $$3$$ columns.

Now let us represent both in the same model.

We see that our model is divided into $$15$$ parts. This is our denominator.

This is nothing but the LCM of the denominators of the given fraction.

As we need to remove \begin{align} \frac {1}{3} \end{align}  from \begin{align} \frac {3}{5} \end{align}, we will move the selected two parts which are not part of the \begin{align} \frac {3}{5} \end{align}, to remove it from\begin{align} \frac {3}{5} \end{align}

Now, our model will look like this.

We see that there are only $$4$$ parts of the remaining which are not shaded out.

Therefore,

\begin{align} \frac {3}{5} \end{align}  - \begin{align} \frac {1}{3} \end{align} = \begin{align} \frac {4}{15} \end{align}

To subtract unlike fractions,

1. Take the LCM of the denominators
2. Convert the given fractions to equivalent fractions with the denominator as the LCM
3. Subtract the numerators

## Subtracting Fractions With Whole Numbers

To subtract a fraction from a whole number, consider the following example.

\begin{align}3 - \frac {1}{2} \end{align}

Convert the whole number to a fractional form

\begin{align} 3= \frac {3}{1}\end{align}

Subtract them like unlike fraction

\begin{align} \frac {3}{1} - \frac {1}{2} \end{align}

\begin{align} &= \left(\frac {3 }{1} \times \frac {2}{2}\right) - \frac {1}{2} \\\ &= \frac {6}{2} - \frac {1}{2} \\\ &= \frac {5}{2} \\\ &= 2\frac {1}{2} \end{align}

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## Subtracting Fractions with Variables

Consider this example,  \begin{align} \frac {2}{5} x\end{align} - \begin{align} \frac {1}{5} x\end{align}

They are like terms as they have the same denominator and $$\text x$$ is common. We can take the common factor out and rewrite it as:

\begin{align} \frac {2}{5} x\end{align} - \begin{align} \frac {1}{5} x\end{align} = (\begin{align} \frac {2}{5} \end{align} - \begin{align} \frac { 1}{5} \end{align})$$x$$ =  \begin{align} \frac {1}{5} x\end{align}

Similarly, when we have to subtract \begin{align} \frac {1}{3} x\end{align} from \begin{align} \frac {1}{2} x\end{align}

We can take the LCM of the denominator and convert them to like terms and take the common variable out are rewrite it as follows:

LCM ($$2 , 3$$ = 6 )

\begin{align} \frac {1}{2} x\end{align} =  \begin{align} \frac {1}{2} x\end{align} $$\times$$  \begin{align} \frac {3}{3} \end{align} =  \begin{align} \frac {3}{6} x\end{align}

\begin{align} \frac {1}{3} x\end{align} =  \begin{align} \frac {1}{3} x\end{align} $$\times$$  \begin{align} \frac {2}{2} \end{align} =  \begin{align} \frac {2}{6} x\end{align}

\begin{align} \frac {1}{2} x - \frac {1}{3} x &= \frac {3}{6} x - \frac {2}{6} x \\ &= \left(\frac {3-2}{6} \right)x \\ &= \frac {1}{6} x\end{align}

Important Notes
1. Recall the steps to subtracting  fractions with same denominator:

\begin{align} \frac {\text{Nr$$_1$$}}{ \text{Dr} } - \frac { \text{Nr$$_2$$} }{ \text{Dr}} = \frac{ \text{Nr$$_1$$} - \text{Nr$$_2$$} }{ \text{Dr} } \end{align}

2. Steps to subtracting fractions with different denominators:

a) Convert the given fractions to like fractions by taking the LCM of the denominator.
b) Find the equivalent fractions of the given fractions whose denominator is the LCM.
c) Subtract the numerators and retain the same denominator.

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## Solved Examples

 Example 1

FInd the difference  of \begin{align} \frac {5}{7} \end{align} & \begin{align} \frac {3}{7} \end{align}

Solution

The given fractions are like fractions.

Subtract the numerators and retain the same denominator.

\begin{align} &=\frac {5}{7} + \frac {3}{7} \\\\ &=\frac {5 - 3}{7} \\\\ &= \frac {2}{7} \end{align}

 $$\therefore \text { The difference is } \frac {2}{7}$$
 Example 2

Subtract \begin{align} \frac {2}{5} \end{align} from  \begin{align} \frac {2}{3} \end{align}

Solution

The given fractions are unlike fractions.

We have to find the LCM of the denominators and convert \begin{align} \frac {2}{5} \end{align} and \begin{align} \frac {2}{3} \end{align} to equivalent fractions of same denominator and then subtract.

LCM of  $$3 ,5 = 15$$

\begin{align} &= \left(\frac {2}{3} \times \frac{5}{5} \right) - \left(\frac {2}{5} \times \frac {3}{3} \right) \\ &= \frac {10}{15} - \frac {6}{15} \\ &= \frac {4}{15} \end{align}

 $$\therefore \text { The difference is } \frac {4}{15}$$
 Example 3

Subtract  \begin{align} \frac {1}{3} \end{align} from  \begin{align} 3 \end{align}

Solution

\begin{align} 3 - \frac {1}{3} &= \frac {3}{1} -\frac {1}{3} \\ &= \left(\frac {3}{1} \times \frac {3}{3}\right) - \frac {1}{3} \\ &= \frac {9}{3} - \frac {1}{3} \\ &= \frac {8}{3} \\ &= 2\frac{2}{3} \end{align}

 $$\therefore \text { The difference is } 2\frac {2}{3}$$
 Example 4

Solve \begin{align} \frac {2}{5} x\end{align} + \begin{align} \frac { 1}{3} y\end{align} - \begin{align} \frac {1}{5} x\end{align} + \begin{align} \frac { 1}{2} y\end{align}

Solution

We can group the $$x$$ terms together and subtract:

\begin{align}\frac {2}{5} x - \frac {1}{5} x = \frac {1}{5}x \end{align}

Grouping the $$\text y$$ terms together, we have:

\begin{align} \frac {1}{3} y\end{align} + \begin{align} \frac {1}{2} y\end{align}

LCM of the denominator ($$3 ,2$$) is $$6$$

Converting it to like terms, we have

\begin{align} \frac { 1}{3} y\end{align} $$\times$$ \begin{align} \frac { 2}{2} \end{align} =  \begin{align} \frac { 2}{6} y\end{align}

\begin{align} \frac { 1}{2} y\end{align} $$\times$$ \begin{align} \frac {3}{3} \end{align} =  \begin{align} \frac { 3}{6} y\end{align}

\begin{align} \frac { 1}{3} y + \frac { 1}{2} y &= \frac { 2}{6} y + \frac { 3}{6} y\\ &= \left(\frac {2+3}{6}\right)y \\ &= \frac{5}{6}y \end{align}

 \begin{align} \frac {1}{5}x + \frac {5}{6}y \end{align}

## Practice Questions

Tips and Tricks
1. For unlike fractions, never subtract the numerators and denominators directly.

\begin{align} \frac {1}{5} \end{align} +  \begin{align} \frac { 2}{3} \end{align} ≠ \begin{align} \frac {3}{8} \end{align}

2. When subtracting unlike fractions, it is not necessary to find the LCM of the denominators. Any common multiple will do.
So, simply multiplying the two denominators gives us a common multiple. This may lead to larger looking numbers, but it can be reduced to its lowest form.

## Maths Olympiad Sample Papers

IMO (International Maths Olympiad) is a competitive exam in Mathematics conducted annually for school students. It encourages children to develop their math solving skills from a competition perspective.

You can download the FREE grade-wise sample papers from below:

## 1. How to subtract fractions

For like fractions, subtract the numerators and retain the same denominator.

For subtracting unlike fractions, take the LCM of the denominators and convert the fractions to equivalent fractions and subtract them as like fractions.

Reduce to its lowest term if needed.

## 2. Subtracting fractions from whole numbers

Convert the Whole number part to fractional part  and subtract like unlike fractions.

It will be in a mixed form. Finally, convert it to improper form:

\begin{align} 2 - \frac {1}{5} &= \frac {2}{1} -\frac {1}{5} \\ &= \left(\frac {2}{1} \times \frac {5}{5}\right) - \frac {1}{5} \\ &= \frac {10}{5} - \frac {1}{5} \\ &= \frac {9}{5} \\ &= 1\frac{4}{5} \end{align}

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