Subtract 4 1/6 minus 2 2/3. What is the difference?

Subtract 4 1/6 minus 2 2/3. What is the difference?

• A. 2
• B. 1 1/2
• C. 1 1/4
• D. 0

Answer: (B)

When subtracting mixed numbers, turn them into fractions with a common denominator. Here, use 6 as the bottom: 4 1/6 becomes 25/6 (since 4×6 + 1 = 25), and 2 2/3 becomes 16/6 (since 2×6 + 4 = 16, because 2/3 is 4/6). Now subtract the fractions: 25/6 − 16/6 = 9/6, which simplifies to 3/2. That’s the same as 1 1/2. So the difference is 1 1/2.

When subtracting mixed numbers, turn them into fractions with a common denominator. Here, use 6 as the bottom: 4 1/6 becomes 25/6 (since 4×6 + 1 = 25), and 2 2/3 becomes 16/6 (since 2×6 + 4 = 16, because 2/3 is 4/6). Now subtract the fractions: 25/6 − 16/6 = 9/6, which simplifies to 3/2. That’s the same as 1 1/2. So the difference is 1 1/2.