Subtract fractions: 7/8 minus 1/8 equals which value?

• A. 1/2
• B. 7/8
• C. 3/4
• D. 5/8

Answer: (C)

Subtracting fractions with the same denominator means you keep the bottom number and subtract the top numbers. Here the bottoms are both 8, so subtract the tops: 7 minus 1 equals 6, giving 6/8. Then simplify by dividing numerator and denominator by 2 to get 3/4. So the result is 3/4. To connect to the other possibilities, 7/8 would come from subtracting zero, 1/2 is 4/8, and 5/8 would be 5/8, not 6/8.