How do I solve this?
2006-09-18 14:52:58 · 11 answers · asked by my_question_account 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
We start with
5/8 - 5
Any number divided by 1 is still itself. That means that 5 = 5/1. That also means we can substitute 5 with 5/1.
5/8 - 5/1
We cannot add or subtract fractions unless the bottom numbers--the numerators--are identical. 8 does not equal 1. No problem--we can change 5/1 again.
Any non-zero number divided by itself is 1. That means that 8/8 equals one.
8/8 = 1
Any number x multiplied by 1 is equal to x.
5/1 * 1 = 5/1
Combine these two facts and we get:
5/1 * 8/8 = 5/1
When multiplying simple fractions, just multiple the numerators and multiply the denominators. (The denominators only have to be the same when adding and subtracting.)
5/1 * 8/8 = 40/8
We can now substitute 40/8 in the original problem.
5/8 - 5/1 = 5/8 - 40/8
Now that the denominators match, you can subtract numerators. The denominator stays the same.
5/8 - 40/8 = -35/8
35 (-35 without a negative/positive sign) is bigger than 8. This makes -35/8 an "improper fraction". We can clean this up a bit. -35/8 equals -4 remainder 3. Or, in other words, 8 goes into -35 negative 4 times with 3/8 left over:
-35/8 = -4 3/8
2006-09-18 15:16:23 · answer #1 · answered by yetanotheronlinename 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You would put 5 over 1 and then make them have the same denominators
5/8-5/1
5/8-40/8=-35/8
2006-09-18 21:55:52 · answer #2 · answered by answerseeker 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will be negative so just do 5-5/8 and then put a negative. So it is going to equal -4 3/8
2006-09-18 22:17:33 · answer #3 · answered by DevilHunter 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think of it on a number line. It helps to draw the line and put a dot on 5/8 and then subtract 40/8 (or 5).
2006-09-18 22:19:43 · answer #4 · answered by Gina P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
5/8- 5/1
5/8-40/8 multiply 5/1 by 8 to get the denomiators the same
-45/8 then just subtract
2006-09-18 21:55:33 · answer #5 · answered by yellowskinnedguy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
5/8-5=5/8-40/8=-35/8=-4 3/8
2006-09-18 21:58:06 · answer #6 · answered by pethe_jengkhol 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
-4 3/8
2006-09-18 21:55:32 · answer #7 · answered by Atlanta's Finest 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
convert 5 to x/8 form...
which equals 40/8
so what is 5/8-40/8?
you guessed it... -35/8 or -4 3/8
2006-09-18 21:58:15 · answer #8 · answered by anotherAzn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Divide 5 by eight and subtract five.
2006-09-18 22:17:04 · answer #9 · answered by joshuaskelton 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Calculator helps.
2006-09-18 22:01:21 · answer #10 · answered by chris h 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋