Algebra Examples

$\frac{1}{3} - \frac{1}{2}$

Step 1

To write $\frac{1}{3}$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{2}{2}$ .

$\frac{1}{3} \cdot \frac{2}{2} - \frac{1}{2}$

Step 2

To write $- \frac{1}{2}$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{3}{3}$ .

$\frac{1}{3} \cdot \frac{2}{2} - \frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{3}{3}$

Step 3

Write each expression with a common denominator of $6$ , by multiplying each by an appropriate factor of $1$ .

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Step 3.1

Multiply $\frac{1}{3}$ by $\frac{2}{2}$ .

$\frac{2}{3 \cdot 2} - \frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{3}{3}$

Step 3.2

Multiply $3$ by $2$ .

$\frac{2}{6} - \frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{3}{3}$

Step 3.3

Multiply $\frac{1}{2}$ by $\frac{3}{3}$ .

$\frac{2}{6} - \frac{3}{2 \cdot 3}$

Step 3.4

Multiply $2$ by $3$ .

$\frac{2}{6} - \frac{3}{6}$

Step 4

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$\frac{2 - 3}{6}$

Step 5

Subtract $3$ from $2$ .

$\frac{- 1}{6}$

Step 6

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$- \frac{1}{6}$

Step 7

The result can be shown in multiple forms.

Exact Form:

$- \frac{1}{6}$

Decimal Form:

$- 0.1\overline{6}$