Subtracting Fractions (with Regrouping) Worksheet Download - Free Printable

We are given 14 problems involving subtracting mixed numbers with regrouping. The key instruction is: Use regrouping to solve. Make sure your answer is not an improper fraction.

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🔁 What is “regrouping” in subtracting mixed numbers?

When the fraction part of the minuend (top number) is smaller than the fraction part of the subtrahend (bottom number), we cannot subtract directly. So we borrow 1 from the whole number, convert it into a fraction with the same denominator, and add it to the existing fraction.

Example:
In `5 1/4 - 2 3/4`, since 1/4 < 3/4, we borrow 1 from 5 → becomes 4, and add 4/4 to 1/4 → 5/4. Now we have `4 5/4 - 2 3/4`.

Then subtract whole numbers and fractions separately.

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Let’s solve each problem step-by-step:

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1) `5 1/4 - 2 3/4`

- Fraction: 1/4 < 3/4 → need to regroup.
- Borrow 1 from 5 → becomes 4; add 4/4 to 1/4 → 5/4
- Now: `4 5/4 - 2 3/4`
- Whole: 4 - 2 = 2
- Fraction: 5/4 - 3/4 = 2/4 = 1/2
- ✔ Answer: 2 1/2

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2) `2 2/4 - 1 3/4`

- 2/4 < 3/4 → regroup.
- Borrow 1 from 2 → becomes 1; add 4/4 to 2/4 → 6/4
- Now: `1 6/4 - 1 3/4`
- Whole: 1 - 1 = 0
- Fraction: 6/4 - 3/4 = 3/4
- ✔ Answer: 3/4

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3) `3 4/8 - 1 7/8`

- 4/8 < 7/8 → regroup.
- Borrow 1 from 3 → becomes 2; add 8/8 to 4/8 → 12/8
- Now: `2 12/8 - 1 7/8`
- Whole: 2 - 1 = 1
- Fraction: 12/8 - 7/8 = 5/8
- ✔ Answer: 1 5/8

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4) `4 1/8 - 2 2/8`

- 1/8 < 2/8 → regroup.
- Borrow 1 from 4 → becomes 3; add 8/8 to 1/8 → 9/8
- Now: `3 9/8 - 2 2/8`
- Whole: 3 - 2 = 1
- Fraction: 9/8 - 2/8 = 7/8
- ✔ Answer: 1 7/8

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5) `9 1/9 - 7 4/9`

- 1/9 < 4/9 → regroup.
- Borrow 1 from 9 → becomes 8; add 9/9 to 1/9 → 10/9
- Now: `8 10/9 - 7 4/9`
- Whole: 8 - 7 = 1
- Fraction: 10/9 - 4/9 = 6/9 = 2/3
- ✔ Answer: 1 2/3

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6) `2 2/5 - 1 4/5`

- 2/5 < 4/5 → regroup.
- Borrow 1 from 2 → becomes 1; add 5/5 to 2/5 → 7/5
- Now: `1 7/5 - 1 4/5`
- Whole: 1 - 1 = 0
- Fraction: 7/5 - 4/5 = 3/5
- ✔ Answer: 3/5

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7) `7 2/9 - 1 3/9`

- 2/9 < 3/9 → regroup.
- Borrow 1 from 7 → becomes 6; add 9/9 to 2/9 → 11/9
- Now: `6 11/9 - 1 3/9`
- Whole: 6 - 1 = 5
- Fraction: 11/9 - 3/9 = 8/9
- ✔ Answer: 5 8/9

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8) `9 1/8 - 2 4/8`

- 1/8 < 4/8 → regroup.
- Borrow 1 from 9 → becomes 8; add 8/8 to 1/8 → 9/8
- Now: `8 9/8 - 2 4/8`
- Whole: 8 - 2 = 6
- Fraction: 9/8 - 4/8 = 5/8
- ✔ Answer: 6 5/8

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9) `2 3/6 - 1 5/6`

- 3/6 < 5/6 → regroup.
- Borrow 1 from 2 → becomes 1; add 6/6 to 3/6 → 9/6
- Now: `1 9/6 - 1 5/6`
- Whole: 1 - 1 = 0
- Fraction: 9/6 - 5/6 = 4/6 = 2/3
- ✔ Answer: 2/3

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10) `8 1/5 - 1 3/5`

- 1/5 < 3/5 → regroup.
- Borrow 1 from 8 → becomes 7; add 5/5 to 1/5 → 6/5
- Now: `7 6/5 - 1 3/5`
- Whole: 7 - 1 = 6
- Fraction: 6/5 - 3/5 = 3/5
- ✔ Answer: 6 3/5

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11) `2 1/8 - 1 3/8`

- 1/8 < 3/8 → regroup.
- Borrow 1 from 2 → becomes 1; add 8/8 to 1/8 → 9/8
- Now: `1 9/8 - 1 3/8`
- Whole: 1 - 1 = 0
- Fraction: 9/8 - 3/8 = 6/8 = 3/4
- ✔ Answer: 3/4

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12) `9 1/9 - 7 2/9`

- 1/9 < 2/9 → regroup.
- Borrow 1 from 9 → becomes 8; add 9/9 to 1/9 → 10/9
- Now: `8 10/9 - 7 2/9`
- Whole: 8 - 7 = 1
- Fraction: 10/9 - 2/9 = 8/9
- ✔ Answer: 1 8/9

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13) `3 1/5 - 2 2/5`

- 1/5 < 2/5 → regroup.
- Borrow 1 from 3 → becomes 2; add 5/5 to 1/5 → 6/5
- Now: `2 6/5 - 2 2/5`
- Whole: 2 - 2 = 0
- Fraction: 6/5 - 2/5 = 4/5
- ✔ Answer: 4/5

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14) `4 1/5 - 3 3/5`

- 1/5 < 3/5 → regroup.
- Borrow 1 from 4 → becomes 3; add 5/5 to 1/5 → 6/5
- Now: `3 6/5 - 3 3/5`
- Whole: 3 - 3 = 0
- Fraction: 6/5 - 3/5 = 3/5
- ✔ Answer: 3/5

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## ✔ Final Answers:

1. 2 1/2
2. 3/4
3. 1 5/8
4. 1 7/8
5. 1 2/3
6. 3/5
7. 5 8/9
8. 6 5/8
9. 2/3
10. 6 3/5
11. 3/4
12. 1 8/9
13. 4/5
14. 3/5

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📌 All answers are not improper fractions — as required.

Let me know if you want these written on the worksheet format or explained visually!