Subtract Fractions from Whole Numbers Worksheet (examples, answers ... - Free Printable

To subtract a fraction from a whole number, you can think of "borrowing" 1 from the whole number. That 1 is turned into a fraction that matches the bottom number (denominator) of the fraction you are subtracting.

Here is the step-by-step solution for each problem:

Left Column:

1. $5 - \frac{1}{5}$
* Take 1 from 5, which leaves 4.
* Change that 1 into $\frac{5}{5}$.
* Subtract: $\frac{5}{5} - \frac{1}{5} = \frac{4}{5}$.
* Combine with the remaining 4: $4 \frac{4}{5}$

2. $4 - \frac{2}{5}$
* Take 1 from 4, which leaves 3.
* Change that 1 into $\frac{5}{5}$.
* Subtract: $\frac{5}{5} - \frac{2}{5} = \frac{3}{5}$.
* Combine with the remaining 3: $3 \frac{3}{5}$

3. $9 - \frac{1}{2}$
* Take 1 from 9, which leaves 8.
* Change that 1 into $\frac{2}{2}$.
* Subtract: $\frac{2}{2} - \frac{1}{2} = \frac{1}{2}$.
* Combine with the remaining 8: $8 \frac{1}{2}$

4. $8 - \frac{1}{2}$
* Take 1 from 8, which leaves 7.
* Change that 1 into $\frac{2}{2}$.
* Subtract: $\frac{2}{2} - \frac{1}{2} = \frac{1}{2}$.
* Combine with the remaining 7: $7 \frac{1}{2}$

5. $2 - \frac{3}{10}$
* Take 1 from 2, which leaves 1.
* Change that 1 into $\frac{10}{10}$.
* Subtract: $\frac{10}{10} - \frac{3}{10} = \frac{7}{10}$.
* Combine with the remaining 1: $1 \frac{7}{10}$

6. $8 - \frac{1}{3}$
* Take 1 from 8, which leaves 7.
* Change that 1 into $\frac{3}{3}$.
* Subtract: $\frac{3}{3} - \frac{1}{3} = \frac{2}{3}$.
* Combine with the remaining 7: $7 \frac{2}{3}$

7. $2 - \frac{2}{5}$
* Take 1 from 2, which leaves 1.
* Change that 1 into $\frac{5}{5}$.
* Subtract: $\frac{5}{5} - \frac{2}{5} = \frac{3}{5}$.
* Combine with the remaining 1: $1 \frac{3}{5}$

8. $3 - \frac{3}{4}$
* Take 1 from 3, which leaves 2.
* Change that 1 into $\frac{4}{4}$.
* Subtract: $\frac{4}{4} - \frac{3}{4} = \frac{1}{4}$.
* Combine with the remaining 2: $2 \frac{1}{4}$

Right Column:

9. $3 - \frac{4}{5}$
* Take 1 from 3, which leaves 2.
* Change that 1 into $\frac{5}{5}$.
* Subtract: $\frac{5}{5} - \frac{4}{5} = \frac{1}{5}$.
* Combine with the remaining 2: $2 \frac{1}{5}$

10. $8 - \frac{7}{9}$
* Take 1 from 8, which leaves 7.
* Change that 1 into $\frac{9}{9}$.
* Subtract: $\frac{9}{9} - \frac{7}{9} = \frac{2}{9}$.
* Combine with the remaining 7: $7 \frac{2}{9}$

11. $2 - \frac{1}{6}$
* Take 1 from 2, which leaves 1.
* Change that 1 into $\frac{6}{6}$.
* Subtract: $\frac{6}{6} - \frac{1}{6} = \frac{5}{6}$.
* Combine with the remaining 1: $1 \frac{5}{6}$

12. $3 - \frac{1}{6}$
* Take 1 from 3, which leaves 2.
* Change that 1 into $\frac{6}{6}$.
* Subtract: $\frac{6}{6} - \frac{1}{6} = \frac{5}{6}$.
* Combine with the remaining 2: $2 \frac{5}{6}$

13. $7 - \frac{7}{10}$
* Take 1 from 7, which leaves 6.
* Change that 1 into $\frac{10}{10}$.
* Subtract: $\frac{10}{10} - \frac{7}{10} = \frac{3}{10}$.
* Combine with the remaining 6: $6 \frac{3}{10}$

14. $9 - \frac{3}{5}$
* Take 1 from 9, which leaves 8.
* Change that 1 into $\frac{5}{5}$.
* Subtract: $\frac{5}{5} - \frac{3}{5} = \frac{2}{5}$.
* Combine with the remaining 8: $8 \frac{2}{5}$

15. $5 - \frac{1}{3}$
* Take 1 from 5, which leaves 4.
* Change that 1 into $\frac{3}{3}$.
* Subtract: $\frac{3}{3} - \frac{1}{3} = \frac{2}{3}$.
* Combine with the remaining 4: $4 \frac{2}{3}$

16. $8 - \frac{4}{9}$
* Take 1 from 8, which leaves 7.
* Change that 1 into $\frac{9}{9}$.
* Subtract: $\frac{9}{9} - \frac{4}{9} = \frac{5}{9}$.
* Combine with the remaining 7: $7 \frac{5}{9}$

Final Answer:
$5 - \frac{1}{5} = 4 \frac{4}{5}$
$4 - \frac{2}{5} = 3 \frac{3}{5}$
$9 - \frac{1}{2} = 8 \frac{1}{2}$
$8 - \frac{1}{2} = 7 \frac{1}{2}$
$2 - \frac{3}{10} = 1 \frac{7}{10}$
$8 - \frac{1}{3} = 7 \frac{2}{3}$
$2 - \frac{2}{5} = 1 \frac{3}{5}$
$3 - \frac{3}{4} = 2 \frac{1}{4}$

$3 - \frac{4}{5} = 2 \frac{1}{5}$
$8 - \frac{7}{9} = 7 \frac{2}{9}$
$2 - \frac{1}{6} = 1 \frac{5}{6}$
$3 - \frac{1}{6} = 2 \frac{5}{6}$
$7 - \frac{7}{10} = 6 \frac{3}{10}$
$9 - \frac{3}{5} = 8 \frac{2}{5}$
$5 - \frac{1}{3} = 4 \frac{2}{3}$
$8 - \frac{4}{9} = 7 \frac{5}{9}$