Subtract 2/3 - 8/9. Write your answer in simplest form.
Understand the Problem
The question is asking to subtract two fractions, specifically 2/3 and 8/9, and provide the answer in its simplest form.
Answer
$\frac{-2}{9}$
Answer for screen readers
The answer is $\frac{-2}{9}$.
Steps to Solve
- Find a common denominator
To subtract two fractions, we need a common denominator. The denominators here are 3 and 9. The least common denominator (LCD) is 9.
- Convert the first fraction
We need to convert the first fraction, $\frac{2}{3}$, to an equivalent fraction with a denominator of 9:
$$ \frac{2}{3} = \frac{2 \times 3}{3 \times 3} = \frac{6}{9} $$
- Write the second fraction
The second fraction $\frac{8}{9}$ already has a denominator of 9, so it remains the same.
- Subtract the fractions
Now that both fractions have the same denominator, we can subtract them:
$$ \frac{6}{9} - \frac{8}{9} = \frac{6 - 8}{9} = \frac{-2}{9} $$
- Simplify the fraction
The fraction $\frac{-2}{9}$ is already in its simplest form.
The answer is $\frac{-2}{9}$.
More Information
The result of the subtraction shows that you end up with a negative fraction, indicating that $\frac{8}{9}$ is greater than $\frac{2}{3}$. This emphasizes the importance of understanding how to manage fractions and their relationships to one another.
Tips
- Not finding a common denominator before attempting to subtract the fractions.
- Forgetting to convert both fractions to have the same denominator, leading to incorrect results.
