What is 3 and 5/9 subtracted by 1 and 7/8

40/9.   you have to simply it and make it an inproper fraction so it would be 224/63 - 504/63 which simplifies to 40/9.

First off we change the mixed numbers into an improper fraction. 
This is how we do it 
denominator x whole number + numerator. 
9 x 3 + 5 = 32/9 
8 x 1 + 7 = 15/8 
Now we can multiply. 
15 x 32 = 480 
8 x 7 = 56 
480/56 
Since this is an improper fraction we have to change it to a mixed number
This is how we do it
numerator ÷ denominator 
480 ÷ 56 = 8 32/56 
8 32/56 simplified = 8 4/7 
The answer is 8 4/7  

I hope this helps!