Subtracting Fractions Level 2

The 5-step plan

At level 2 of subtracting fractions, the difference with level 1 is that you're not working with equivalent fractions. So the denominators first have to be made the same, before the fractions can be subtracted. Then you always need to check whether the answer can be simplified.

Step 1 - Subtracting fractions

Step 3 - Don't forget to simplify

Step 4 - Multiple choice questions

Try to answer all the 10 questions right!

Step 5: Get your diploma

Answer all the 10 questions right to get the diploma!

Description Subtracting Fractions 2

Example 1: 12 - 14
First we check if the denominators are the same. No, the fractions aren't equivalent.
Now we need to make sure the denominators are the same. We can change the denominator 2 into 4 by multiplying it by 2.
This gives us the following sum 24 - 14
Now we can subtract the numerators. 2 - 1 = 1 the answer is 14

Can we simplify the fraction? No, that's not possible. The answer remains the same 12 - 14 = 14


Example 2:23 - 15
Are the denominators the same. No, they're not equivalent.
Then we first make the denominators the same.
Can we make the smallest denominator the same as the largest in one step? No, that's not possible.
Now we multiply the largest denominator (5) until it can be divided by the smallest denominator (3).
We start with x 2, then x 3, etcetera.
5 x 2 = 10. 10 cant's be divided by 3. Now we try x 3. 5 x 3 = 15. 15 can be divided by 3.
Now we know both denominators will be 15.
To make the denominator of 23 15 we do x 5. We then get 1015 and to make the denominator of 15 15, we do x 3. We then get 315.

We now have the following sum 1015 - 315
We can now subtract the numerators. 10 - 3 = 7. This gives the answer 715

Can we simplify? No. The answer is 23 - 15 = 715