Subtracting fractions worksheet maker for like and unlike ... - Free Printable

Let's solve each of these fraction subtraction problems step by step, following the instructions:

> How to subtract fractions with unlike denominators?
> 1. Find the common denominator (LCM of the denominators).
> 2. Convert each fraction to an equivalent fraction with the common denominator.
> 3. Subtract the numerators.
> 4. Simplify the result if possible.

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Problem 1:

$\frac{4}{8} - \frac{2}{5}$

- LCM of 8 and 5 is 40
- $\frac{4}{8} = \frac{4 \times 5}{8 \times 5} = \frac{20}{40}$
- $\frac{2}{5} = \frac{2 \times 8}{5 \times 8} = \frac{16}{40}$
- $\frac{20}{40} - \frac{16}{40} = \frac{4}{40} = \frac{1}{10}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{1}{10}$

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Problem 2:

$\frac{4}{5} - \frac{1}{7}$

- LCM of 5 and 7 is 35
- $\frac{4}{5} = \frac{4 \times 7}{5 \times 7} = \frac{28}{35}$
- $\frac{1}{7} = \frac{1 \times 5}{7 \times 5} = \frac{5}{35}$
- $\frac{28}{35} - \frac{5}{35} = \frac{23}{35}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{23}{35}$

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Problem 3:

$\frac{2}{7} - \frac{1}{5}$

- LCM of 7 and 5 is 35
- $\frac{2}{7} = \frac{10}{35}$
- $\frac{1}{5} = \frac{7}{35}$
- $\frac{10}{35} - \frac{7}{35} = \frac{3}{35}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{3}{35}$

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Problem 4:

$\frac{2}{2} - \frac{3}{5}$

- $\frac{2}{2} = 1$, so we write it as $\frac{5}{5}$
- $\frac{5}{5} - \frac{3}{5} = \frac{2}{5}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{2}{5}$

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Problem 5:

$\frac{2}{2} - \frac{4}{8}$

- $\frac{2}{2} = 1 = \frac{8}{8}$
- $\frac{4}{8}$ stays
- $\frac{8}{8} - \frac{4}{8} = \frac{4}{8} = \frac{1}{2}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{1}{2}$

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Problem 6:

$\frac{5}{7} - \frac{2}{4}$

- Simplify $\frac{2}{4} = \frac{1}{2}$
- LCM of 7 and 2 is 14
- $\frac{5}{7} = \frac{10}{14}$
- $\frac{1}{2} = \frac{7}{14}$
- $\frac{10}{14} - \frac{7}{14} = \frac{3}{14}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{3}{14}$

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Problem 7:

$\frac{7}{8} - \frac{2}{6}$

- Simplify $\frac{2}{6} = \frac{1}{3}$
- LCM of 8 and 3 is 24
- $\frac{7}{8} = \frac{21}{24}$
- $\frac{1}{3} = \frac{8}{24}$
- $\frac{21}{24} - \frac{8}{24} = \frac{13}{24}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{13}{24}$

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Problem 8:

$\frac{4}{6} - \frac{2}{7}$

- Simplify $\frac{4}{6} = \frac{2}{3}$
- LCM of 3 and 7 is 21
- $\frac{2}{3} = \frac{14}{21}$
- $\frac{2}{7} = \frac{6}{21}$
- $\frac{14}{21} - \frac{6}{21} = \frac{8}{21}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{8}{21}$

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Problem 9:

$\frac{4}{4} - \frac{3}{4}$

- Same denominator: $\frac{4 - 3}{4} = \frac{1}{4}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{1}{4}$

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Problem 10:

$\frac{2}{5} - \frac{1}{8}$

- LCM of 5 and 8 is 40
- $\frac{2}{5} = \frac{16}{40}$
- $\frac{1}{8} = \frac{5}{40}$
- $\frac{16}{40} - \frac{5}{40} = \frac{11}{40}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{11}{40}$

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Problem 11:

$\frac{8}{8} - \frac{1}{2}$

- $\frac{8}{8} = 1 = \frac{2}{2}$
- $\frac{2}{2} - \frac{1}{2} = \frac{1}{2}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{1}{2}$

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Problem 12:

$\frac{2}{7} - \frac{1}{7}$

- Same denominator: $\frac{2 - 1}{7} = \frac{1}{7}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{1}{7}$

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Problem 13:

$\frac{4}{6} - \frac{3}{6}$

- Same denominator: $\frac{4 - 3}{6} = \frac{1}{6}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{1}{6}$

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Problem 14:

$\frac{5}{6} - \frac{5}{7}$

- LCM of 6 and 7 is 42
- $\frac{5}{6} = \frac{35}{42}$
- $\frac{5}{7} = \frac{30}{42}$
- $\frac{35}{42} - \frac{30}{42} = \frac{5}{42}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{5}{42}$

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Problem 15:

$\frac{3}{3} - \frac{3}{6}$

- $\frac{3}{3} = 1 = \frac{6}{6}$
- $\frac{6}{6} - \frac{3}{6} = \frac{3}{6} = \frac{1}{2}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{1}{2}$

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Problem 16:

$\frac{6}{7} - \frac{2}{4}$

- Simplify $\frac{2}{4} = \frac{1}{2}$
- LCM of 7 and 2 is 14
- $\frac{6}{7} = \frac{12}{14}$
- $\frac{1}{2} = \frac{7}{14}$
- $\frac{12}{14} - \frac{7}{14} = \frac{5}{14}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{5}{14}$

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Problem 17:

$\frac{3}{3} - \frac{1}{2}$

- $\frac{3}{3} = 1 = \frac{2}{2}$
- $\frac{2}{2} - \frac{1}{2} = \frac{1}{2}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{1}{2}$

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Problem 18:

$\frac{4}{4} - \frac{1}{2}$

- $\frac{4}{4} = 1 = \frac{2}{2}$
- $\frac{2}{2} - \frac{1}{2} = \frac{1}{2}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{1}{2}$

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Problem 19:

$\frac{5}{5} - \frac{1}{7}$

- $\frac{5}{5} = 1 = \frac{7}{7}$
- $\frac{7}{7} - \frac{1}{7} = \frac{6}{7}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{6}{7}$

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Problem 20:

$\frac{4}{4} - \frac{2}{3}$

- $\frac{4}{4} = 1 = \frac{3}{3}$
- $\frac{3}{3} - \frac{2}{3} = \frac{1}{3}$

✔ Answer: $\frac{1}{3}$

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✔ Final Answers Summary:

| Problem | Answer |
|--------|----------------|
| 1 | $\frac{1}{10}$ |
| 2 | $\frac{23}{35}$ |
| 3 | $\frac{3}{35}$ |
| 4 | $\frac{2}{5}$ |
| 5 | $\frac{1}{2}$ |
| 6 | $\frac{3}{14}$ |
| 7 | $\frac{13}{24}$ |
| 8 | $\frac{8}{21}$ |
| 9 | $\frac{1}{4}$ |
| 10 | $\frac{11}{40}$ |
| 11 | $\frac{1}{2}$ |
| 12 | $\frac{1}{7}$ |
| 13 | $\frac{1}{6}$ |
| 14 | $\frac{5}{42}$ |
| 15 | $\frac{1}{2}$ |
| 16 | $\frac{5}{14}$ |
| 17 | $\frac{1}{2}$ |
| 18 | $\frac{1}{2}$ |
| 19 | $\frac{6}{7}$ |
| 20 | $\frac{1}{3}$ |

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