Evaluate 7/12-4/9

$\frac{7}{12} - \frac{4}{9}$

Step 1

To write $\frac{7}{12}$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{3}{3}$ .

$\frac{7}{12} \cdot \frac{3}{3} - \frac{4}{9}$

Step 2

To write $- \frac{4}{9}$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{4}{4}$ .

$\frac{7}{12} \cdot \frac{3}{3} - \frac{4}{9} \cdot \frac{4}{4}$

Step 3

Write each expression with a common denominator of $36$ , by multiplying each by an appropriate factor of $1$ .

Multiply $\frac{7}{12}$ by $\frac{3}{3}$ .

$\frac{7 \cdot 3}{12 \cdot 3} - \frac{4}{9} \cdot \frac{4}{4}$

Multiply $12$ by $3$ .

$\frac{7 \cdot 3}{36} - \frac{4}{9} \cdot \frac{4}{4}$

Multiply $\frac{4}{9}$ by $\frac{4}{4}$ .

$\frac{7 \cdot 3}{36} - \frac{4 \cdot 4}{9 \cdot 4}$

Multiply $9$ by $4$ .

$\frac{7 \cdot 3}{36} - \frac{4 \cdot 4}{36}$

Step 4

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$\frac{7 \cdot 3 - 4 \cdot 4}{36}$

Step 5

Simplify the numerator.

Multiply $7$ by $3$ .

$\frac{21 - 4 \cdot 4}{36}$

Multiply $- 4$ by $4$ .

$\frac{21 - 16}{36}$

Subtract $16$ from $21$ .

$\frac{5}{36}$

Step 6

The result can be shown in multiple forms.

Exact Form:

$\frac{5}{36}$

Decimal Form:

$0.13\overline{8}$