Pls solve this for me

Question

Simplify 2/5 - 1/4

Pls do this for me thank s

Answer 1

2/5 - 1/4 = 8/20 - 5/20 = 3/20

to combine the two fractions, you need to convert them to fractions with a common denominator. 5x4 is the smallest common denominator

2/5 = 2/5 x 1 = 2/5 x 4/4 = (2x5)/(4x4) = 8/20

1/4 = 1/4 x 1 = 1/4 x 5/5 = (1x5)/(4x5) = 5/20

8/20 - 5/20 = (8-5)/20 = 3/20

You can think of the denominator in a fraction as like apples or oranges

You can't add apples and oranges. So you need to convert them into something that is the same. then you can add them or subtract them.

2/5 - 1/4 is sort of like that. convert the fractions to a common denominator and

8/20 - 5/20 is like 8 fruits - 5 fruits = 3 fruits where 1/20 is the fruit.

or an alternative method is

convert them to decimals

2/5 = 0.4

1/4 = 0.25

2/5 - 1/4 = .4-.25 = .15 = 15/100 = 3/20

that's the same as using a common denominator of 10

.4= 4/10

.25 = 2.5/10

4/10 - 2.5/10 = 1.5/10 = 3/20