Adding and Subtracting Fractions with Whole and Mixed Numbers

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OK, that's easy! But, what about

5 - 3/8?

Well, we can't just stick it together like we would if it was addition.

We need to get a  common denominator... But, the 5 doesn't even have a denominator!

That's OK... Just think of pizzas cut into 8 pieces...

a whole pizza cut into 8 equal pieces

How many pieces would there be in 5 pizzas? Yep!

5 x 8 = 40 pieces

So 5 = 40/8

Check it: 40/8 is the same as 40 divided by 8 which = 5. Yep!

Back to the problem:

Head on over to the next page to try some fraction practice problems...