Subtract Unlike Fractions Worksheet (examples, answers, videos ... - Free Printable

You're asked to subtract unlike fractions — meaning fractions with different denominators. To do this, you must:

1. Find a common denominator (usually the Least Common Denominator, LCD).
2. Convert each fraction to an equivalent fraction with that common denominator.
3. Subtract the numerators, keeping the common denominator.
4. Simplify the result if possible.

Let’s solve each problem step by step.

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Left Column:

#### 1.  $\frac{2}{5} - \frac{1}{10}$

- LCD of 5 and 10 is 10
- $\frac{2}{5} = \frac{4}{10}$
- $\frac{4}{10} - \frac{1}{10} = \frac{3}{10}$ ✔

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#### 2.  $\frac{7}{10} - \frac{1}{4}$

- LCD of 10 and 4 is 20
- $\frac{7}{10} = \frac{14}{20}$, $\frac{1}{4} = \frac{5}{20}$
- $\frac{14}{20} - \frac{5}{20} = \frac{9}{20}$ ✔

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#### 3.  $\frac{2}{5} - \frac{1}{4}$

- LCD of 5 and 4 is 20
- $\frac{2}{5} = \frac{8}{20}$, $\frac{1}{4} = \frac{5}{20}$
- $\frac{8}{20} - \frac{5}{20} = \frac{3}{20}$ ✔

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#### 4.  $\frac{9}{10} - \frac{2}{3}$

- LCD of 10 and 3 is 30
- $\frac{9}{10} = \frac{27}{30}$, $\frac{2}{3} = \frac{20}{30}$
- $\frac{27}{30} - \frac{20}{30} = \frac{7}{30}$ ✔

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#### 5.  $\frac{2}{3} - \frac{1}{2}$

- LCD of 3 and 2 is 6
- $\frac{2}{3} = \frac{4}{6}$, $\frac{1}{2} = \frac{3}{6}$
- $\frac{4}{6} - \frac{3}{6} = \frac{1}{6}$ ✔

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#### 6.  $\frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{3}$

- LCD of 2 and 3 is 6
- $\frac{1}{2} = \frac{3}{6}$, $\frac{1}{3} = \frac{2}{6}$
- $\frac{3}{6} - \frac{2}{6} = \frac{1}{6}$ ✔

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#### 7.  $\frac{3}{4} - \frac{4}{10}$

- Simplify $\frac{4}{10} = \frac{2}{5}$
- LCD of 4 and 5 is 20
- $\frac{3}{4} = \frac{15}{20}$, $\frac{2}{5} = \frac{8}{20}$
- $\frac{15}{20} - \frac{8}{20} = \frac{7}{20}$ ✔

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#### 8.  $\frac{3}{4} - \frac{3}{5}$

- LCD of 4 and 5 is 20
- $\frac{3}{4} = \frac{15}{20}$, $\frac{3}{5} = \frac{12}{20}$
- $\frac{15}{20} - \frac{12}{20} = \frac{3}{20}$ ✔

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Right Column:

#### 1.  $\frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{3}$ → Already solved above: $\frac{1}{6}$

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#### 2.  $\frac{4}{5} - \frac{1}{2}$

- LCD of 5 and 2 is 10
- $\frac{4}{5} = \frac{8}{10}$, $\frac{1}{2} = \frac{5}{10}$
- $\frac{8}{10} - \frac{5}{10} = \frac{3}{10}$ ✔

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#### 3.  $\frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{3}$ → Again: $\frac{1}{6}$

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#### 4.  $\frac{6}{10} - \frac{1}{2}$

- Simplify $\frac{6}{10} = \frac{3}{5}$
- LCD of 5 and 2 is 10
- $\frac{3}{5} = \frac{6}{10}$, $\frac{1}{2} = \frac{5}{10}$
- $\frac{6}{10} - \frac{5}{10} = \frac{1}{10}$ ✔

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#### 5.  $\frac{2}{3} - \frac{2}{10}$

- Simplify $\frac{2}{10} = \frac{1}{5}$
- LCD of 3 and 5 is 15
- $\frac{2}{3} = \frac{10}{15}$, $\frac{1}{5} = \frac{3}{15}$
- $\frac{10}{15} - \frac{3}{15} = \frac{7}{15}$ ✔

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#### 6.  $\frac{4}{10} - \frac{1}{4}$

- Simplify $\frac{4}{10} = \frac{2}{5}$
- LCD of 5 and 4 is 20
- $\frac{2}{5} = \frac{8}{20}$, $\frac{1}{4} = \frac{5}{20}$
- $\frac{8}{20} - \frac{5}{20} = \frac{3}{20}$ ✔

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#### 7.  $\frac{1}{3} - \frac{3}{10}$

- LCD of 3 and 10 is 30
- $\frac{1}{3} = \frac{10}{30}$, $\frac{3}{10} = \frac{9}{30}$
- $\frac{10}{30} - \frac{9}{30} = \frac{1}{30}$ ✔

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#### 8.  $\frac{4}{5} - \frac{2}{3}$

- LCD of 5 and 3 is 15
- $\frac{4}{5} = \frac{12}{15}$, $\frac{2}{3} = \frac{10}{15}$
- $\frac{12}{15} - \frac{10}{15} = \frac{2}{15}$ ✔

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## ✔ Final Answers:

Left Column:

1. $\frac{3}{10}$
2. $\frac{9}{20}$
3. $\frac{3}{20}$
4. $\frac{7}{30}$
5. $\frac{1}{6}$
6. $\frac{1}{6}$
7. $\frac{7}{20}$
8. $\frac{3}{20}$

Right Column:

1. $\frac{1}{6}$
2. $\frac{3}{10}$
3. $\frac{1}{6}$
4. $\frac{1}{10}$
5. $\frac{7}{15}$
6. $\frac{3}{20}$
7. $\frac{1}{30}$
8. $\frac{2}{15}$

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✔ All problems solved using the standard method for subtracting unlike fractions: find LCD, convert, subtract, simplify.

Let me know if you’d like a visual diagram or worksheet version!