How do you subtract #2\frac { 4} { 5} - 1\frac { 2} { 5} - \frac { 5} { 8}#?

1 Answer
Dec 14, 2016

#31/40#

Explanation:

First we should remove all the mixed numbers and turn them into fractions.

#2 4/5# can be rewritten as #10/5 + 4/5 = 14/5#.
#1 2/5# can be rewritten as #5/5 + 2/5 = 7/5#.

Next we should give all the fraction the same denominator.

#14/5 * 8/8 = 112/40#
#7/5 * 8/8 = 56/40#
#5/8 * 5/5 = 25/40#

Now we can solve.

#112/40 - 56/40 - 25/40 = (112-56-25)/40 = 31/40#