Subtraction

Question

 one minus w equals seven twelfths

Answer 1

Nikki, you should solve this problem by writing it on several lines of your paper, going down, as follows:

1 - W = 7/12  (this is stating the problem as a math equation, instead of just as words. That's the important first step always!)

1 - W + W = 7/12 + W  (add W to each side of the equation. Why? B/c you had it as " - W" on the left to begin with, and you need to find out what value W (that is, positive W, or + W) has. So you can get "-W" to disappear and "+W" to appear, by adding W to each side. You can always add the SAME thing to each side of an equation!)

Simplify: 1 = 7/12 + W  (I dropped the "- W + W" from the left, b/c they cancel out)

Next: get W all alone on its side. So:

1 - 7/12 = 7/12 - 7/12 + W = W (the 7/12 and -7/12 cancel out)

Next, rewrite the "1" as a fraction in 12ths: 1 = 12/12. Substitute this in:

12/12 - 7/12 = W

Subtract the numerators on the left, b/c the fractions have the same denominator!

(12-7)/12 = W

5/12 = W

Answer 2

Hi Nikki;

1-w=7/12

Let's make this easier to understand.  Let's place parentheses around both sides of the equation...

(1-w)=(7/12)

Let place the understood denominator of 1 in the left side of the equation...

(1-w)/1=(7/12)

Let's cross-multiply...

12(1-w)=(1)(7)

Let's distribute the 12...

12-12w=7

Let's subtract 12 from both sides...

12-12-12w=7-12

-12w=-5

Let's divide both sides by -12...

(-12w)/-12=-5/-12

A negative number divided by a negative number is a positive number...

w=5/12

 

Let's check our work...

1-(5/12)=7/12

Let's convert 1 into 12/12

(12/12)-(5/12)=7/12