Simplify (x-7y)/12-(x-9y)/12

$\frac{x - 7 y}{12} - \frac{x - 9 y}{12}$

Step 1

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$\frac{x - 7 y - (x - 9 y)}{12}$

Step 2

Simplify each term.

Apply the distributive property.

$\frac{x - 7 y - x - (- 9 y)}{12}$

Multiply $- 9$ by $- 1$ .

$\frac{x - 7 y - x + 9 y}{12}$

Step 3

Simplify terms.

Combine the opposite terms in $x - 7 y - x + 9 y$ .

Subtract $x$ from $x$ .

$\frac{- 7 y + 0 + 9 y}{12}$

Add $- 7 y$ and $0$ .

$\frac{- 7 y + 9 y}{12}$

Add $- 7 y$ and $9 y$ .

$\frac{2 y}{12}$

Cancel the common factor of $2$ and $12$ .

Factor $2$ out of $2 y$ .

$\frac{2 (y)}{12}$

Cancel the common factors.

Factor $2$ out of $12$ .

$\frac{2 y}{2 \cdot 6}$

Cancel the common factor.

$\frac{2 y}{2 \cdot 6}$

Rewrite the expression.

$\frac{y}{6}$