Question

How do you solve `5/8-:3/4`?

Answer 1

See the solution process below:

Explanation:

Use this rule for dividing fractions:

`(color(red)(a)/color(blue)(b))/(color(green)(c)/color(purple)(d)) = (color(red)(a) xx color(purple)(d))/(color(blue)(b) xx color(green)(c))`

`(color(red)(5)/color(blue)(8))/(color(green)(3)/color(purple)(4)) = (color(red)(5) xx color(purple)(4))/(color(blue)(8) xx color(green)(3)) = 20/24`

We can factor and simplify this as:

`20/24 = (4 xx 5)/(4 xx 6) = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(4))) xx 5)/(color(red)(cancel(color(black)(4))) xx 6) = 5/6`

Answer 2

5/6

Explanation:

When you divide a number by a fraction, you multiply that number by the inverse of the fraction.

If the fraction is in the form of a/b, then its inverse is simply b/a.

So:

`5/8-:3/4=5/8xx4/3=5/2xx1/3=5/6`

Hope that helps!