It is asking you to subtract two and five-sixths from five and three-eighths.
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5
– 2
=
- Read the question and then read it again. What is it asking you to do?
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- The denominators are not the same for both fractions so you need to use equivalent fractions.
Eight and six are both factors of 24, so find equivalent fractions using denominator 24.
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5 – 2
5
– 2
- You can now complete the subtraction by first subtracting the whole number 2 to make the calculation easier.
Convert the mixed numbers into improper fractions.
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5 – 2 – =
3 –
=
– = 
- Turn the improper fraction answer into a mixed number.
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= 2
- What is your answer? Can your fraction be simplified?
Check your working.
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is in its simplest form.
The answer is 2.