Subtracting Fractions From A Whole Number

Related Pages
Subtracting Fractions
Adding Fractions
Equivalent Fractions
More Arithmetic Lessons

We will look at two possible methods used when subtracting fractions from a whole number.

Method 1

We convert the whole number to a mixed number and then perform the addition or subtraction.

Example:
Calculate

Solution:

How to subtract fractions from a whole number?
Step 1: Borrow 1 from the whole number portion.
Step 2: Convert 1 into an equivalent fraction with same denominator to the given fraction.
Step 3: Subtract the given fraction from the equivalent fraction you converted.
Step 4: Add result from step 1 and step 3.

Example:
5 - 7/10
16 - 5/8
10 - 5/12
20 - 1/16

Method 2

We convert the whole number to a fraction with the same denominator as the fraction and then perform the addition or subtraction.

Example:
Calculate

Solution:

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