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FractionsArithmeticElementary schoolabout 0:48

Calculate 1/8 - 5/12: animated lesson

A narrated, step-by-step fractions video lesson with captions. Final answer: -7/24.

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Video with a synthetic English voice and captions. Pick another language for subtitles in that language, or open the interactive version.

Video narrated by a synthetic voice (Piper TTS, en_US-ljspeech-high voice (LJ Speech dataset, public domain)); the steps come from our maths engine and the answer was checked independently. Download MP4 (0.3 MB) · Captions (WebVTT)

Steps on screen

1. The problem
Worked example
1/8 - 5/12
2. Step by step
1. $\frac{1}{8} - \frac{5}{12} = \frac{3}{24} - \frac{10}{24}$
  Rewrite both fractions with the least common denominator
2. $\frac{3 - 10}{24} = -\frac{7}{24}$
  Subtract the numerators and keep the denominator
3. $-\frac{7}{24}$
  Final answer in lowest terms
3. The answer
$-\frac{7}{24}$
1/8 - 5/12 = -7/24
4. Check
- Decimal check: -7/24 ≈ -0.2916666667

Transcript

The problem. Here is the problem: 1 over 8 minus 5 over 12. Exact arithmetic with fractions (results kept in lowest terms).

Step by step. Rewrite both fractions with the least common denominator. The LCD of 8 and 12 is 24. Subtract the numerators and keep the denominator. Final answer in lowest terms.

The answer. So the answer is negative 7 over 24. Fractions are combined over a common denominator for addition and subtraction, multiplied straight across, and divided by multiplying by the reciprocal. The result is reduced by the greatest common factor.

Check. Decimal check: negative 7 over 24 approximately negative 0.2916666667.

About fractions

Add, subtract, multiply and divide fractions, finding common denominators and simplifying the result.

Calculate 1/8 - 5/12: Fractions Step-by-Step Lesson