Math question: 3 1/3 - 2 2/5 = ?

Question

Hey guys. It's been 7 years since I was in high school and I'm reviewing for a math test I have to take.

3 and 1/3 minus 2 and 2/5.

The answer is as important as explaining how you got it. I know there's something I'm not rememering about fractions because I got 9/15 or 3/5 as an answer and that's not one of those I can choose from.

Answer 1

For fractions, you want to get all the values in a common denominator.

So, since you have a 3 on the bottom of one and a 5 on the bottom of the other, the least common denominator would be 15.

For the first number, first convert it to a fraction - multiple the denominator  (3) by the whole number in front (3), to get 9.  Then add 1 (for the numerator), and you have 10/3 (which is equal to 3 and 1/3).  Then multiple top and bottom by 5 to get the least common denominator of 15, and you have 50/15.

Do the same for the next number.  So, 5(denominator)*2(whole number)=10 + 2 (numerator)=12/5.  Multiple each by 3, and you get 36/15.

50/15 - 36/15 = 14/15.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

3 1/3 - 2 2/5 = 10/3 -12/5 = 50/15 -36/15 = 14/15

Answer 3

10/3 - 12/5 = 50/15 - 36/15 = 14/15.

Answer 4

multiply the whole number by the bottom number and add the top

3 1/3 = 10/3    2 2/5 =12/5

10/3-12/5

now make the bases the same by multiplying to get the lcm

10/3(5) - 12/5(3) (top and bottom number)

50/15-36/15

14/15