Solve a problem

FractionsArithmeticElementary schoolabout 0:50

Calculate 6/12 - 5/3: animated lesson

A narrated, step-by-step fractions video lesson with captions. Final answer: -7/6.

SpeedLanguage

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
6/12 - 5/3
2. Step by step
1. $\frac{1}{2} - \frac{5}{3} = \frac{3}{6} - \frac{10}{6}$
  Rewrite both fractions with the least common denominator
2. $\frac{3 - 10}{6} = -\frac{7}{6}$
  Subtract the numerators and keep the denominator
3. $-\frac{7}{6} = -1\tfrac{1}{6}$
  Final answer in lowest terms
3. The answer
$-\frac{7}{6}$
6/12 - 5/3 = -7/6
4. Check
- Decimal check: -7/6 ≈ -1.166666667
- As a mixed number: -1 1/6

Transcript

The problem. Here is the problem: 6 over 12 minus 5 over 3. Exact arithmetic with fractions (results kept in lowest terms).

Step by step. Rewrite both fractions with the least common denominator. The LCD of 2 and 3 is 6. Subtract the numerators and keep the denominator. Final answer in lowest terms.

The answer. So the answer is negative 7 over 6. 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 6 approximately negative 1.166666667. As a mixed number: negative 1 1 over 6.

About fractions

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

Calculate 6/12 - 5/3: Fractions Step-by-Step Lesson