SUBTRACTING MIXED NUMBERS

  1. WRITE THE PROBLEM SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT YOU’RE DOING
  1. Rewrite the problem.
  2. Move to STEP 2.
  1. THE SEPARATION OF PARTS – WHOLE NUMBERS FROM FRACTIONS
  1. Remove and write the whole numbers from the equation you wrote in STEP 1. Be sure to use the same operation.
  2. Subtract the whole numbers.
  3. Circle the difference in RED.
  4. Move to STEP 3.
  1. THE SEPARATION OF PARTS – FRACTIONS FROM WHOLE NUMBERS
  1. Remove and write the fractions from the equation you wrote in STEP 1. Be sure to use the same operation.
  2. If the denominators are commonand the subtraction IS POSSIBLE –
  • Subtract the fractions and find the difference.
  • Move to STEP 5
  1. If the denominators are common and the subtraction IS NOT POSSIBLE –
  • Move to STEP 7
  1. If the denominators are NOT common and the subtraction IS NOT POSSIBLE –
  • Move on to STEP 4
  1. FINDING A COMMON DENOMINATOR
  1. Use DUCKMAN to find the common denominator.
  • If subtraction is possible, subtract the fractions and find the difference.
  • Move to STEP 5
  • If subtraction is NOT possible
  • Move to STEP 7
  1. USING THE 2, 3, 5, 9, 10 RULES
  1. Write the fraction difference you got from STEP 3, STEP 4, or STEP 7
  2. Use the 2, 3, 5, 9, 10 rules to reduce and simplify the fraction to its lowest value.
  3. Be sure to use the same rule on the top and bottom. Never use two different rules.
  4. Continue to use the rules over and over until they no longer work.
  5. If the fraction is NOT an improper fraction, circle it in BLUE
  • Move to STEP 8
  1. If the fraction IS AN IMPROPER FRACTION, move to STEP 6
  1. CONVERTING AN IMPROPER FRACTION TO A MIXED NUMBER
  1. Divide the numerator by the denominator
  2. Write the quotient as a mixed number and circle it in BLUE.
  3. Move on to STEP 8.
  1. STEALING TO MAKE SUBTRACTION POSSIBLE
  1. Write the subtraction problem that is not possible, being sure to start with a + in the front and leaving room to add a fraction in front of that.
  2. Go to the number in RED from STEP 2.
  3. Subtract 1 from that whole number, then write the NEW difference next to it and circle the new number in RED. Cross out the old whole number.
  4. Now, convert the 1 you stole and turn it into a fraction using the denominator that you need and write it in front of the + sign.
  5. Use the upside down pyramid to solve your new equation to get the difference.
  6. Circle it in BLUE.
  7. Move to STEP 5.
  1. GETTING YOUR ANSWER
  1. Write the answer you circled in RED from STEP 2.
  2. Write an addition sign.
  3. Write the answer you circled in BLUE from STEP 5 or STEP 6
  4. Add the RED to the BLUE to get the sum. (Be sure to add any whole numbers together first if you got a mixed number from STEP 5)
  5. Move to STEP 9.
  1. THE FINAL STEP
  1. Write the original problem again from STEP 1.
  2. Put an EQUAL sign.
  3. Write the answer you got from STEP 8. YOU’RE DONE! 