What is 5/8 - 7/11?

Here's how to subtract 7/11 from 5/8:

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 5 by 11, and get 55.

Then we multiply 7 by 8, and get 56.

Next we give both terms new denominators -- 8 × 11 = 88.

So now our fractions look like this:

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can subtract the numerators.

55 − 56 = -1

So the answer is:

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...

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