Solve 55/72-45/12

$$\frac { 55 } { 72 } - \frac { 45 } { 12 }$$

Evaluate

$$-\frac{215}{72}\approx -2.986111111$$

Solution Steps

Reduce the fraction \frac{45}{12} to lowest terms by extracting and canceling out 3.

$$\frac{55}{72}-\frac{15}{4}$$

Least common multiple of 72 and 4 is 72. Convert \frac{55}{72} and \frac{15}{4} to fractions with denominator 72.

$$\frac{55}{72}-\frac{270}{72}$$

Since \frac{55}{72} and \frac{270}{72} have the same denominator, subtract them by subtracting their numerators.

$$\frac{55-270}{72}$$

Subtract 270 from 55 to get -215.

$$-\frac{215}{72}$$

Factor

$$-\frac{215}{72} = -2\frac{71}{72} = -2.986111111111111$$