What is 8/36 minus 3/14? subtracting unlike fractions

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Explanation:

To subtract fractions with differen denominators you must convert to equivalent fractions with the same denominator.

The best practice is to convert to fractions with the least common denominator.

Given that 8/36 is not the simplest form, you can start to simplify it, by dividing both numerator and denominator by 4:

8/36 = 2/9

Now find the least common denominator of 9 and 14. That is found by decomposing the numbers and taking the product of  the common and not common prime  factors each raised to the its greates power.

  9 = (3^2)
14 = (2)(7)

Therefore the least common denominator is: (2)(3^2)(7) = 126

So, convert both fractions to the equivalent fraction with denominator 126:

2 * 14           28
= 
9 * 14         126

 3 * 9        27
=
14 * 9      126

Now you subtract the two fractions with the same denominator:

  28        27         1
-  =
126      126       126

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