Question

Find the difference:
$\frac{5}{8}-\frac{7}{12}$

Answer 1

$\frac{5}{8}-\frac{7}{12}$

$$\begin{gathered} 2\underline{\overline{)8,12}} \\ \underline{2\underline{\overline{)4,6}}} \\ 2\overline{)\underline{2,3}} \\ \underline{3\underline{\overline{)1,3}}} \\ \underline{\underline{\overline{)1,1}}} \end{gathered}$$
L.C.M. of 8 and 12 = (2 $\times$ 2$\times$ 2$\times$3) = 24
Now, we have:
$$\begin{gathered} \frac{5}{8}=\frac{5\times 3}{8\times 3}=\frac{15}{24};\frac{7}{12}=\frac{7\times 2}{12\times 2}=\frac{14}{24} \\ \therefore \frac{5}{8}-\frac{7}{12}=\frac{15}{24}-\frac{14}{24}=\frac{\left(15-14\right)}{24}=\frac{1}{24} \end{gathered}$$