math help

What is 1/4 - 7/12?

What is 1/4 - 7/12?

Here's how to subtract 7/12 from 1/4:

1
4
7
12

Step 1

We can't subtract two fractions with different denominators. So you need to get a common denominator. To do this, you'll multiply the denominators times each other... but the numerators have to change, too. They get multiplied by the other term's denominator.

So we multiply 1 by 12, and get 12.

Then we multiply 7 by 4, and get 28.

Next we give both terms new denominators -- 4 × 12 = 48.

So now our fractions look like this:

12
48
28
48

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can subtract the numerators.

12 − 28 = -16

So the answer is:

-16
48

Step 3

Last of all, we need to simplify the fraction, if possible. Can it be reduced to a simpler fraction?

To find out, we try dividing it by 2...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

-16
48
÷ 2 =
-8
24

Let's try dividing by 2 again...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

-8
24
÷ 2 =
-4
12

Let's try dividing by 2 again...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

-4
12
÷ 2 =
-2
6

Let's try dividing by 2 again...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

-2
6
÷ 2 =
-1
3

Let's try dividing by 2 again...

No good. 2 is larger than -1. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! The final answer is:
1
4
7
12
=
1
3