Solve 1/8-1/3/frac{5{12}-3/12}

$$\frac{ \frac{ 1 }{ 8 } - \frac{ 1 }{ 3 } }{ \frac{ 5 }{ 12 } - \frac{ 3 }{ 12 } }$$

Evaluate

$$-\frac{5}{4}=-1.25$$

Solution Steps

Least common multiple of 8 and 3 is 24. Convert \frac{1}{8} and \frac{1}{3} to fractions with denominator 24.

$$\frac{\frac{3}{24}-\frac{8}{24}}{\frac{5}{12}-\frac{3}{12}}$$

Since \frac{3}{24} and \frac{8}{24} have the same denominator, subtract them by subtracting their numerators.

$$\frac{\frac{3-8}{24}}{\frac{5}{12}-\frac{3}{12}}$$

Subtract 8 from 3 to get -5.

$$\frac{-\frac{5}{24}}{\frac{5}{12}-\frac{3}{12}}$$

Since \frac{5}{12} and \frac{3}{12} have the same denominator, subtract them by subtracting their numerators.

$$\frac{-\frac{5}{24}}{\frac{5-3}{12}}$$

Subtract 3 from 5 to get 2.

$$\frac{-\frac{5}{24}}{\frac{2}{12}}$$

Reduce the fraction \frac{2}{12} to lowest terms by extracting and canceling out 2.

$$\frac{-\frac{5}{24}}{\frac{1}{6}}$$

Divide -\frac{5}{24} by \frac{1}{6} by multiplying -\frac{5}{24} by the reciprocal of \frac{1}{6}.

$$-\frac{5}{24}\times 6$$

Express -\frac{5}{24}\times 6 as a single fraction.

$$\frac{-5\times 6}{24}$$

Multiply -5 and 6 to get -30.

$$\frac{-30}{24}$$

Reduce the fraction \frac{-30}{24} to lowest terms by extracting and canceling out 6.

$$-\frac{5}{4}$$

Factor

$$-\frac{5}{4} = -1\frac{1}{4} = -1.25$$