Whats 3 1/2 minus 1/4 (simplify too, if needed)

The answer is 3 1/4 and it does not need to be simplified

3 1/2 - 1/4 is 13/4

I know that because when you're subtracting with a mixed fraction, you always converted to improper fraction. You do that by multiplying the denominator by the whole number and then add the numerator. Then the number you get becomes the NEW numerator and the denominator stays the same.

So 2*3 + 1 = 7   so... 7/2 is the improper fraction.

Now we can finally subtract but there is one more problem!

In order for us to subtract, we must have the SAME denominator. I know that if I multiply 2 by 2 I will get 4 and therefore have the same denominator as the other fraction. NOTE: Whatever you do to the top or bottom, you must do the same to the other. So if I multiply 2 by 2, I must multiply 7 by 2 too.

Then I get 14/4 - 1/4

Now we simply subtract the numerator ONLY and leave the denominator.

Therefore the answer is 13/4

Sorry for making this very long but I wanted to explain the best I can and get confusion out of the way. Also, if I have made any error, I apologize because its been a while since we did fractions :D

 

The answer is 49/16 or 3 1/16