Pre-Algebra Examples

$\frac{1}{4} - \frac{3}{5}$

Step 1

To write $\frac{1}{4}$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{5}{5}$ .

$\frac{1}{4} \cdot \frac{5}{5} - \frac{3}{5}$

Step 2

To write $- \frac{3}{5}$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{4}{4}$ .

$\frac{1}{4} \cdot \frac{5}{5} - \frac{3}{5} \cdot \frac{4}{4}$

Step 3

Write each expression with a common denominator of $20$ , by multiplying each by an appropriate factor of $1$ .

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Step 3.1

Multiply $\frac{1}{4}$ by $\frac{5}{5}$ .

$\frac{5}{4 \cdot 5} - \frac{3}{5} \cdot \frac{4}{4}$

Step 3.2

Multiply $4$ by $5$ .

$\frac{5}{20} - \frac{3}{5} \cdot \frac{4}{4}$

Step 3.3

Multiply $\frac{3}{5}$ by $\frac{4}{4}$ .

$\frac{5}{20} - \frac{3 \cdot 4}{5 \cdot 4}$

Step 3.4

Multiply $5$ by $4$ .

$\frac{5}{20} - \frac{3 \cdot 4}{20}$

Step 4

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$\frac{5 - 3 \cdot 4}{20}$

Step 5

Simplify the numerator.

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Step 5.1

Multiply $- 3$ by $4$ .

$\frac{5 - 12}{20}$

Step 5.2

Subtract $12$ from $5$ .

$\frac{- 7}{20}$

Step 6

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$- \frac{7}{20}$

Step 7

The result can be shown in multiple forms.

Exact Form:

$- \frac{7}{20}$

Decimal Form:

$- 0.35$