Subtraction of Mixed Fractions

In this exercise, we will subtract two mixed numbers: four and one fifth minus two and seven eighths.

A good way to start is by converting both mixed numbers into improper fractions.

For the first term, multiply four by five and add one to get twenty-one over five.

For the second term, multiply two by eight and add seven, which gives us twenty-three over eight.

Now we need a common denominator for five and eight. The least common multiple is forty.

To rewrite twenty-one fifths with a denominator of forty, multiply the top and bottom by eight. That gives us one hundred sixty-eight over forty.