Question

3/9-8/12 /3/8*2
please with steps
thanks :)

Answer 1

I am assuming that this is stating [(3/9)-(8/12)]/(3/8)*2. Would I be correct? It is just unclear. With that said, this is how it would be done..
First you have your fractions 3/9, 8/12, and 3/8. Can any of these be reduced? You ask this because it may make it easier to find the common denominator later when (and if) you need to add or subtract. The answer is yes. 3/9 can be reduced to 1/3 because both the numerator and denominator are divisible by 3. 8/12 can be reduced to 2/3 because both are divisible by 4. Now you have your fractions 1/3, 2/3 and 3/8. Unfortunately, we did not come to the conclusion that all the denominators were the same and we still need to subtract. In order to add and subtract, we must make the terms alike. In order to do this we must make the denominators the same. A common factor of 3 and 8 (your denominators) is 24. In order to get 3 to 24, you must multiply by 8 and to get 8 to 24 you must multiply by 3. Giving you your fractions of 8/24, 16/24, and 9/24. Now your equation is..
[(8/24 - 16/24)]/9/24*2. Always start within parentheses (PEDMAS).
[(-8/24)]/9/24*2. When dividing fractions, you inverse the second fraction like so..
-8/24 * 24/9 = -192/216. Can this be reduced? Yes to 8/9. You could also take a "short cut" and see that because it would be..
-8*24
-------
9*24 The 24's cancel out just as if they were variables.

Now you are left with (8/9)*2. Putting the in fraction form this gives you (8/9)*(2/1). You multiply nominators and denominators to give you 16/9. Can this be reduced? No. Why? Because they only have a common factor of 1.

I hope that I solved the correct problem for you and interpreted it correctly. If not, I hope that I led you on the right track to help you solve it. Hope this helps! (:

**PEDMAS-- Parentheses, Exponents, Divide, Multiply, Add, Subtract. With multiplying and dividing, which ever comes first in the equation is what you do. Same with Adding and subtracting. But multiplying and diving ALWAYS come before adding and subtracting.