Subtracting Mixed Numbers?

Question

Alright, first off I dropped out in the 10th grade so I never made it passed 10th grade. My math was a huge problem back then and it's a huge problem now. I'm taking GED classes now and I'm trying to learn, but the online test's and drills and tutorials are acting as if I already know how to do these problems, but they have not taught me how to do the problems. I need to know how to do problems like this.

5 - 2 1/6=?
(5 minus 2 and 1 over 6)

I understand how to do the problem if the whole number and the mixed numbers were reversed, but I cannot understand how to get a problem like this solved. I understand as much as up to this.

5 4/6 - 4 = 1 4/6
(5 and 4 over 6 minus 4 equals 1 and 4 over 6)
I understand how to do it if the problem is written like that because it's really easy. But I need to learn how to do the problem with the problem being the whole number written first and then either add or subtract with another whole number with a fraction.

Can anybody help me here? The lessons I'm taking are acting as if I already know how to arrive at how to do the problem rather than teaching me the steps to do the problem as if I already know how to get the answer.
This has always been the problem I've been having with teachers when I went to school, none of them took the time even if I asked for help, they'd always just get irritated or end up yelling at me saying "What is it that you don't get? 1 + 1 = 2!" The problem is exaggerated but that's what always happened, they kept assuming that I already knew how to do a problem that to them it should be easy, when none of them taught me how to do them.

So can somebody please help me with this? I'm tired of feeling so dumb and getting problems wrong just because nobody took the time to understand that I don't get it.

If I can't get any help here and if Yahoo deletes this question again that I've posted twice now seeking help, then that's it for me, I'll just say it's over and give up, since there's no point in asking when I get no help.

Answer 1

First change the whole number to 4 6/6(which is an improper fraction).

Next make a new problem like write it out again and substitute the 5 for the 4 6/6.

Then just subtract the whole number first then the fraction to get ur answer.

5 - 2 1/6=

4 6/6 - 2 1/6=2 5/6

Answer 2

5-2 1/6

1) turn the mixed number into an inproper fraction ( to do this, you have to multiply the number in front, 2, with the denominator, a.k.a the bottom number if the fraction, which is 6 in this case. 2x6=12. now add the numerator,a.k.a the number on top of the fraction. 12+1=13. 13 is the new numerator. Keep the denominator the same as it originally was. THE NEW EQUATION IS:

5- 13/6

2) write 5 as the fraction 5/1, it's the same thing. NOW THE EQUATION IS:

5/1 - 13/6

3) to subtract fractions, the denominators (bottom of fractions) must be the same. The denominators right now are 1 and 6.

The rule is... You can multiply the numbers by anything to make them match, but whatever you multiply the denominator by, you must also multiply the numerator by. So 1x?=6. 1x6=6! so you make 6 the new denominator. Now your denominators are both 6, but you have to multiply the first numerator by 6 because that's what you did to the denominator. 6x5=30. THE NEW EQUATION IS:

30/6-13/6

4) subtract the numerators but keep the denominator the same 30-13=17

5) the answer is 17/6

6) divide. How many 6s are in 17?

7) 6 goes into 17 twice evenly with 5 leftover so THE ANSWER IS:

2 5/6



It actually becomes MUCH, MUCH easier over time.

While I was typing all this out I realized that actually most people eventually learn to just think from the original equation,

2 1/6 +?= 5

it's the same answer.

Hope this helps! Good luck with math :)

Answer 3

Change the mixed number into an improper fraction.



So 5 - 2 1/6 becomes 5 - 13/6.



Remember that 5 is the same as 5/1.



5/1 - 13/6



Find a common denominator. In this case, it's 6.



30/6 - 13/6



Subtract



17/6 = 2 5/6



Do the same for 5 4/6 - 4