Question Video: Subtraction of Rational Numbers into Simplest Form Mathematics • First Year of Preparatory School

Video Transcript

Evaluate two-fifths minus four-fifths giving the number in its simplest form.

When we look at this expression two-fifths minus four-fifths, both of our values are fractions. And they have a common denominator. Since both fractions are in the same form and have a common denominator, to subtract, we simply subtract their numerators and the denominator stays the same. This means we’ll have two minus four over five. We know that two minus four equals negative two. And then, the denominator is five. And so, we say two-fifths minus four-fifths is equal to negative two-fifths.