Q17. - Algebra 1

Question

Find each sum or difference. Write in the simplest form.

$\frac{7}{8}-\frac{1}{8}$

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The simplest form is $\frac{3}{4}$.

Step 1. Take L.C.M of the denominators of each fraction.

$\text{L.C.M of 8 and 8 is}=8$

Step 2. Evaluate the difference.

First make the denominators of all fractions equal to LCM by multiplying the numerator and denominator with an integer. Then add/subtract the numerators directly over the common denominator.

$$\begin{gathered} \frac{7}{8}-\frac{1}{8}=\frac{7-1}{8} \\ =\frac{6}{8} \end{gathered}$$

Step 3. Simplify the result.

Write the fraction with factor form and then simplify it.

$\begin{array}{l}=\frac{3\times 2}{2\times 2\times 2}\\ =\frac{3}{4}\end{array}$

Therefore, the simplest form is $\frac{3}{4}$.