Chapter 0.4, Problem 18E

To determine

To calculate: The simplified form of $\frac{7}{15}-\frac{2}{15}$ .

Answer to Problem 18E

The simplified form of $\frac{7}{15}-\frac{2}{15}$ is $\frac{1}{3}$ .

Explanation of Solution

Given information:

The statement “ $\frac{7}{15}-\frac{2}{15}$ .”

Formula used:

When two or more fractions with same denominators are added or subtracted then only numerators are added or subtracted , denominator remains unchanged.

Consider the provided statement “ $\frac{7}{15}-\frac{2}{15}$ .”

Recall that when two fractions having same denominator are subtracted then only numerators are subtracted, denominator remains unchanged.

So, the given expression can be simplified as,

  $\begin{array}{c}\frac{7}{15}-\frac{2}{15}=\frac{7-2}{15}\\ \frac{7}{15}-\frac{2}{15}=\frac{5}{15}\end{array}$

Now,

  $5$ can be written as the product of 5 and 1.

  $15$ can be written as the product of 5 and 3.

So, $\frac{5}{15}$ can be further simplified as,

  $\frac{5}{15}=\frac{5\times 1}{5\times 3}$

Striking off the common terms, we get,

  $\frac{5}{15}=\frac{1}{3}$

Hence, the simplified form of $\frac{7}{15}-\frac{2}{15}$ is $\frac{1}{3}$ .