Question

How do you simplify `5/6-1/8div1/2`?

Answer 1

`7/12`

Explanation:

There are 2 terms, separated by the minus sign. Each term must simplify to a single answer before you can subtract, so do the division first:

`color(blue)(5/6) color(red)(-1/8 div1/2)`

`color(blue)(5/6) color(red)(-1/8 xx 2/1)" "larr` multiply by the reciprocal

`color(blue)(5/6) color(red)(-1/4)" "larr`now find a common denominator

`(10-3)/12 " "larr"` make equivalent fractions

`7/12`