ISEE Middle Level Math : How to subtract fractions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Middle Level Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Subtract Fractions

Give the result in simplest form:

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{20} - \frac{11}{20} + \frac{9}{20}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{12}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{20}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle -\frac{13}{20}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{13}{20}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{20} - \frac{11}{20} + \frac{9}{20}\)

\(\displaystyle =\frac{7-11+9}{20}\)

\(\displaystyle =\frac{-4+9}{20}\)

\(\displaystyle =\frac{5}{20} =\frac{5\div 5}{20\div 5} = \frac{1}{4}\)

Example Question #1281 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Mathematics Achievement

Evaluate:

\(\displaystyle 9 - 6.36\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2.64\)

\(\displaystyle 2.36\)

\(\displaystyle 6.27\)

\(\displaystyle 3.64\)

\(\displaystyle 3.36\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2.64\)

Explanation:

Subtract vertically, appending the 9 with a decimal point and two placeholder zeroes first.

\(\displaystyle 9.00\)

\(\displaystyle \underline{6.36}\)

\(\displaystyle 2.64\)

Example Question #451 : Arithmetic

Evaluate:

\(\displaystyle 7.82 - 4.7 - 2.56\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 0.56\)

\(\displaystyle 9.96\)

\(\displaystyle 9.91\)

\(\displaystyle 4.79\)

\(\displaystyle 5.68\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 0.56\)

Explanation:

By order of operations, subtractions are carried out in left-to-right order, so subtract 4.70 (adding the placeholder zero) from 7.82, aligning the decimal points:

\(\displaystyle 7.82\)

\(\displaystyle \underline{4.70}\)

\(\displaystyle 3.12\)

Now subtract 2.56 from this difference, again aligning vertically by decimal point:

\(\displaystyle 3.12\)

\(\displaystyle \underline{2.56}\)

\(\displaystyle 0.56\)

Example Question #451 : Concepts

Evaluate:

\(\displaystyle 6.54 - 9\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -6.45\)

\(\displaystyle -2.46\)

\(\displaystyle -3.54\)

\(\displaystyle -2.54\)

\(\displaystyle -3.46\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -2.46\)

Explanation:

Rewrite this difference as a sum. The sum of two numbers of unlike sign is the difference of their absolute values, with the sign of the "dominant" number (the negative number here) affixed:

\(\displaystyle 6.54 - 9 = 6.54 + (-9) = -(9-6.54)\)

Subtract vertically by aligning the decimal points, making sure you append the 9 with a decimal point and two placeholder zeroes:

\(\displaystyle 9.00\)

\(\displaystyle \underline{6.54}\)

\(\displaystyle 2.46\)

Since the answer is negative, append a negative symbol in front. The answer is \(\displaystyle -2.46\).

Example Question #2 : How To Subtract Fractions

Subtract:

\(\displaystyle 0.005 - 0.15\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -0.10\)

\(\displaystyle -0.145\)

\(\displaystyle 0.0485\)

\(\displaystyle -0.1405\)

\(\displaystyle 0.00485\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -0.145\)

Explanation:

Since you are subtracting a larger number from a smaller, reverse them, and affix a negative symbol:

\(\displaystyle 0.005 - 0.15 = - \left (0.15 - 0.005 \right )\)

Rewrite vertically, lining up the decimal digits. Subtract as you would two integers. (Note that you are appending a zero to the 0.15.)

\(\displaystyle \begin{matrix} \; \; \; 0.150\\ -\underline{0.005}\\\; \; \; 0.145\end{matrix}\)

Affix the negative symbol to obtain the difference of \(\displaystyle -0.145\).

Example Question #2 : How To Subtract Fractions

Evaluate:

\(\displaystyle 6 \frac{9}{11} - 2 \frac{3}{11}+ 4 \frac{7}{11}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 13\frac{7}{11}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{11}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{10}{11}\)

\(\displaystyle 9 \frac{2}{11}\)

\(\displaystyle 9\frac{8}{11}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 9 \frac{2}{11}\)

Explanation:

Subtract the first two fractions first. This is best done by writing vertically, and subtracting integer and fraction parts.

   \(\displaystyle 6 \frac{9}{11}\)

\(\displaystyle \underline{- 2 \frac{3}{11}}\)

   \(\displaystyle 4 \frac{6}{11}\)

Now add this to the third fraction similarly, adjusting as shown for the improper fraction:

   \(\displaystyle 4 \frac{6}{11}\)

\(\displaystyle \underline{+ 4 \frac{7}{11}}\)

   \(\displaystyle 8 \frac{13}{11} = 8 +1 + \frac{2}{11} = 9 \frac{2}{11}\)

Example Question #1291 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Mathematics Achievement

Subtract:

\(\displaystyle 8.1 -5.67\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 4.86\)

\(\displaystyle -13.77\)

\(\displaystyle -4.86\)

\(\displaystyle 7.533\)

\(\displaystyle 2.43\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2.43\)

Explanation:

Subtract vertically, making sure the decimal points in all three numbers line up (note that a zero has been appended to the first number):

\(\displaystyle \begin{matrix} \; \; \; 8.10\\ \underline{-5.67}\\ \; \; \;2.43 \end{matrix}\)

Example Question #8 : How To Subtract Fractions

Subtract: \(\displaystyle 8\frac{1}{4}-5\frac{7}{8}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2\frac{3}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle 3\frac{1}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 2 \frac{5}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle 2\frac{1}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 3 \frac{5}{8}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2\frac{3}{8}\)

Explanation:

Rewrite the first fraction in eighths, as \(\displaystyle LCD (4,8) = 8\).

\(\displaystyle 8\frac{1}{4} = 8\frac{1\times 2}{4\times 2} = 8\frac{2}{8}\)

Now write vertically:

   \(\displaystyle 8\frac{2}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle -\underline{5\frac{7}{8}}\)

"Borrow" in the first expression, then subtract integer and fractional parts separately:

  \(\displaystyle 7\frac{10}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle -\underline{5\frac{7}{8}}\)

   \(\displaystyle 2\frac{3}{8}\)

Example Question #1292 : Isee Middle Level (Grades 7 8) Mathematics Achievement

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{15}-\frac{6}{15}=\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{13}{15}\)

\(\displaystyle 1\)

\(\displaystyle 13\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{15}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{15}\)

Explanation:

Subtract the numerators:

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{15}-\frac{6}{15}=\frac{1}{15}\)

Answer: \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{15}\)

Example Question #1052 : Hspt Mathematics

Which of the following expressions is equal to \(\displaystyle 15 - 7 \frac{3}{4}\) ?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 8.25\)

\(\displaystyle 7.25\)

\(\displaystyle 8.2\)

\(\displaystyle 7.8\)

\(\displaystyle 7.75\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 7.25\)

Explanation:

Rewrite \(\displaystyle 7 \frac{3}{4}\)  as a decimal:

\(\displaystyle 3 \div 4 = 0.75\), so \(\displaystyle 7 \frac{3}{4} = 7.75\)

Now subtract:

 \(\displaystyle 15.00\)

\(\displaystyle \underline{-7.75}\)

   \(\displaystyle 7.25\)

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