What is 1/4 minus 1/2 in fraction?
1/4 minus 1/2 equals to -1/4 in fraction form.
Learn how to find what is 1/4 minus 1/2 in fraction form just in a few minutes. We have covered the easiest method to write 1/4 - 1/2 as a fraction and decimal.
Summary: 1/4 minus 1/2
Since both the fractions have the unequal denominators, you have to find the equivalent fractions for 1/4 and 1/2 having identical denominators before starting adding the fractions. Find the LCM of denominators, 4 is the LCM of 4 and 2. Multiply the LCM 4 with all the numerators and denominators of both fractions (1/4 x 4/4) - (1/2 x 4/4) and simplify further in order to have the common denominators. By simplifying the fraction subtraction expression becomes -1/4.
The below workout with step by step calculation shows how to find what is the difference between two fractions by subtracting a fraction 1/2 from 1/4. For different, unequal or unlike denominators, use any one of the following methods to find the equivalent fraction for 1/4 minus 1/2.
1. LCM method
2. Cross multiplication method.
1/4-1/2 using LCM Method:
What is 1/4 minus 1/2 as a fraction?
step 1 Observe the input parameters and what to be found:
Input:
Fraction A: 1/4
Fraction B: 1/2
What to be found?
1/4-1/2 = ?
Find what's the difference between 1/4 and 1/2.
step 2 Compare the denominators of fractions 1/4 and 1/2 to identify whether it is a like or unlike fraction subtraction. Since the denominators of given fractions 1/4 and 1/2 are not equal, it is said to be unlike fractions subtraction.
step 3For unlike fractions subtraction, find the LCM (least common multiple) of both denominators of fractions 1/4 and 1/2:
The LCM of 4 and 2 is 4.
step 4 Write the fractions 1/4 and 1/2 in the subtraction expression form and multiply LCM with all the numerators and denominators of both fractions.
=1/4-1/2
=(1 x 4)/(4 x 4)-(1 x 4)/(2 x 4)
step 5 Simplify the expression to have common denominator:
=1/4-2/4
step 6 Take the common values out and rewrite the above expression like the below:
=1/4 x (1/1-2/1)
=1/4 x (1 - 2)
step 7Simplify the above expression further:
=1/4 x -1
=-1/4
1/4-1/2=-1/4
Hence,
1/4 minus 1/2 equals to -1/4 in fraction.
1/4-1/2 using Cross Multiplication Method:
step 1 Observe the input parameters and what to be found:
Input:
Fraction A: 1/4
Fraction B: 1/2
What to be found?
1/4-1/2 = ?
Find what's the difference between 1/4 and 1/2.
step 2 Find the product of numerator of Fraction A and denominator of Fraction B (1 x 2), find the product of numerator of Fraction B and denominator of Fraction A (1 x 4), and find the product of both denominators of Fraction A and Fraction B (4 x 2) and rewrite the equation as like the below:
= (1 x 2) - (1 x 4)/(4 x 2)
step 3 Simplify and rewrite the fraction:
= (2 - 4)/8
= -2/8
= -1/4
1/4-1/2 = -1/4
Hence,
1/4 minus 1/2 = -1/4