Math PicnicEvery sheet is a promise

Unlike denominator word problems

Practice sheetNew questions
The question

How much more did Omar use than Kwame?

Omar worked the early shift and used kilogram; Kwame came in later and used kilogram.
−
−
kilogram
  1. Read it through. Two amounts, one taken from the other — but the two fractions are cut into different-sized pieces.
  2. You cannot subtract them as they stand: − counts pieces of two different sizes. Find a size they can both be cut into.
  3. Rewritten over that common denominator: − . Same amounts, same-sized pieces.
  4. Now the numerators subtract, and the denominator stays put: kilogram.

How it works.

  1. 01

    Read it through. Two amounts, one taken from the other — but the two fractions are cut into different-sized pieces.

  2. 02

    You cannot subtract them as they stand: 2/3 − 1/12 counts pieces of two different sizes. Find a size they can both be cut into.

  3. 03

    Rewritten over that common denominator: 8/12 − 1/12. Same amounts, same-sized pieces.

  4. 04

    Now the numerators subtract, and the denominator stays put: 7/12 kilogram.

Pick another skill