Lets operate is separate parts, the whole parts and the fractions: 9 1/6 - 3 5/8 = (9 - 3) + (1/6 - 5/8) so now we have separated the operations, but now we need to get the fractions to the same denominator using the minimum common multiple of 6 and 8, which is 48 so we convert those fractions to be divided by 48: 1/6 = (8/8)(1/6) = (8*1)/(8*6) = 8/48 5/8 = (6/6)/(5/8) = (6*5)/(6*8) = 30/48 Lets substitute those fractions and subtract: = (9 - 3) + (1/6 - 5/8<span>) </span>= (9 - 3) + (8/48 - 30/48<span>) </span>= (6) + (-22/48) We have a negative fraction and have to subtract it from the whole part, we can convert the whole part to be divided by 48 as well, so the subtraction is easy: 6 = (48/48)(6) = (48*6)/(48) = 288/48 susbstitute: <span>= (6) + (-22/48) </span><span>= (288/48) + (-22/48) </span><span>= 288/48 - 22/48 </span>= 266/48 = 5 26/48 = 5 13/24
5 13/24 because you put the fractions in to improper fractions then get a common denominator of 24.... 55/6 - 29/8....220/24- 87/24.... 133/24....5 13/24..... problem solved