Question

Find the difference. $$ \frac{4}{3}-\frac{7}{3} $$

Short answer

The difference between \( \frac{4}{3} \) and \( \frac{7}{3} \) is -1.

Step-by-step solution

Identifying denominators

The first step in subtracting fractions is to check if the denominators, the bottom numbers of the fractions, are the same. In this case, both denominators are 3, so, the fractions can be subtracted directly

Subtracting the fractions

The numerators, the top numbers of the fractions, can be subtracted while keeping the denominator constant, because our denominators are identical in this case. So, \( \frac{4}{3}-\frac{7}{3} = \frac{4-7}{3} = \frac{-3}{3} \)

Simplifying the result

Dividing -3 by 3 gives -1. Therefore, the simplification of the fraction \( \frac{-3}{3} \) results in -1