Subtracting fractions worksheet with unlike denominators, including examples and exercises.

Here are the step-by-step solutions for each problem on the worksheet. Remember, to subtract fractions with different bottom numbers (denominators), you first need to make them the same.

a. $\frac{4}{8} - \frac{1}{4}$
* Change $\frac{1}{4}$ so it has a denominator of 8. Multiply top and bottom by 2: $\frac{1 \times 2}{4 \times 2} = \frac{2}{8}$.
* Now subtract: $\frac{4}{8} - \frac{2}{8} = \frac{2}{8}$.
* Simplify the answer: $\frac{2}{8}$ becomes $\frac{1}{4}$.

b. $\frac{7}{12} - \frac{3}{6}$
* Change $\frac{3}{6}$ so it has a denominator of 12. Multiply top and bottom by 2: $\frac{3 \times 2}{6 \times 2} = \frac{6}{12}$.
* Now subtract: $\frac{7}{12} - \frac{6}{12} =$ $\frac{1}{12}$.

c. $\frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{6}$
* Change $\frac{1}{2}$ so it has a denominator of 6. Multiply top and bottom by 3: $\frac{1 \times 3}{2 \times 3} = \frac{3}{6}$.
* Now subtract: $\frac{3}{6} - \frac{1}{6} = \frac{2}{6}$.
* Simplify the answer: $\frac{2}{6}$ becomes $\frac{1}{3}$.

d. $\frac{9}{10} - \frac{1}{2}$
* Change $\frac{1}{2}$ so it has a denominator of 10. Multiply top and bottom by 5: $\frac{1 \times 5}{2 \times 5} = \frac{5}{10}$.
* Now subtract: $\frac{9}{10} - \frac{5}{10} = \frac{4}{10}$.
* Simplify the answer: $\frac{4}{10}$ becomes $\frac{2}{5}$.

e. $\frac{4}{6} - \frac{1}{3}$
* Change $\frac{1}{3}$ so it has a denominator of 6. Multiply top and bottom by 2: $\frac{1 \times 2}{3 \times 2} = \frac{2}{6}$.
* Now subtract: $\frac{4}{6} - \frac{2}{6} = \frac{2}{6}$.
* Simplify the answer: $\frac{2}{6}$ becomes $\frac{1}{3}$.

f. $\frac{7}{10} - \frac{2}{5}$
* Change $\frac{2}{5}$ so it has a denominator of 10. Multiply top and bottom by 2: $\frac{2 \times 2}{5 \times 2} = \frac{4}{10}$.
* Now subtract: $\frac{7}{10} - \frac{4}{10} =$ $\frac{3}{10}$.

g. $\frac{5}{12} - \frac{1}{6}$
* Change $\frac{1}{6}$ so it has a denominator of 12. Multiply top and bottom by 2: $\frac{1 \times 2}{6 \times 2} = \frac{2}{12}$.
* Now subtract: $\frac{5}{12} - \frac{2}{12} =$ $\frac{3}{12}$ (which simplifies to $\frac{1}{4}$).

h. $\frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{3}$
* The common denominator for 2 and 3 is 6.
* Change $\frac{1}{2}$ to $\frac{3}{6}$ and $\frac{1}{3}$ to $\frac{2}{6}$.
* Now subtract: $\frac{3}{6} - \frac{2}{6} =$ $\frac{1}{6}$.

i. $\frac{1}{2} - \frac{1}{4}$
* Change $\frac{1}{2}$ so it has a denominator of 4. Multiply top and bottom by 2: $\frac{1 \times 2}{2 \times 2} = \frac{2}{4}$.
* Now subtract: $\frac{2}{4} - \frac{1}{4} =$ $\frac{1}{4}$.

j. $\frac{5}{8} - \frac{2}{8}$
* The denominators are already the same!
* Just subtract the top numbers: $5 - 2 = 3$.
* Answer: $\frac{3}{8}$.

k. $\frac{9}{10} - \frac{2}{5}$
* Change $\frac{2}{5}$ so it has a denominator of 10. Multiply top and bottom by 2: $\frac{2 \times 2}{5 \times 2} = \frac{4}{10}$.
* Now subtract: $\frac{9}{10} - \frac{4}{10} =$ $\frac{5}{10}$ (which simplifies to $\frac{1}{2}$).

l. $\frac{5}{6} - \frac{2}{3}$
* Change $\frac{2}{3}$ so it has a denominator of 6. Multiply top and bottom by 2: $\frac{2 \times 2}{3 \times 2} = \frac{4}{6}$.
* Now subtract: $\frac{5}{6} - \frac{4}{6} =$ $\frac{1}{6}$.

Final Answer:
a. 1/4
b. 1/12
c. 1/3
d. 2/5
e. 1/3
f. 3/10
g. 1/4
h. 1/6
i. 1/4
j. 3/8
k. 1/2
l. 1/6