Subtract 1/3 - 5/8. Write your answer in simplest form.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking us to subtract two fractions, 1/3 and 5/8, and express the answer in its simplest form.
Answer
The answer to the subtraction is $\frac{-7}{24}$.
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is $\frac{-7}{24}$.
Steps to Solve
- Find a common denominator
To subtract the fractions $\frac{1}{3}$ and $\frac{5}{8}$, we first need to find a common denominator. The denominators are 3 and 8. The least common multiple (LCM) of 3 and 8 is 24.
- Convert each fraction
Next, we convert each fraction to have the common denominator of 24.
For $\frac{1}{3}$: $$ \frac{1}{3} = \frac{1 \times 8}{3 \times 8} = \frac{8}{24} $$
For $\frac{5}{8}$: $$ \frac{5}{8} = \frac{5 \times 3}{8 \times 3} = \frac{15}{24} $$
- Perform the subtraction
Now, we can subtract the fractions: $$ \frac{8}{24} - \frac{15}{24} = \frac{8 - 15}{24} = \frac{-7}{24} $$
- Simplify the result
The fraction $\frac{-7}{24}$ is already in its simplest form, so our final answer is: $$ \frac{-7}{24} $$
The final answer is $\frac{-7}{24}$.
More Information
The subtraction of fractions requires a common denominator to be calculated properly. In this case, the answer $\frac{-7}{24}$ indicates that the result is a negative fraction, reflecting that $\frac{5}{8}$ is greater than $\frac{1}{3}$.
Tips
- Forgetting to find the common denominator can lead to incorrect answers.
- Not converting both fractions to the same denominator before performing the subtraction.
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