Question

How do you simplify `47-14 3/7-11 2/21`?

Answer 1

`21 10/21`

Explanation:

Deal with the whole numbers first

`47-14=33`
`33-11=22`

so we now have `22-3/7-2/21`

`3/7=6/14=9/21` so if I substitute `9/21` for `3/7` in the question I get

`22-9/21-2/21`
Put the two fractions together to do one subtraction

`-9/21-2/21=-11/21`

`=>` `22-11/21`
If I take one whole number and change it into a fraction with 21 as the denominator I would get `21/21`. Now I can do the subtraction

`21 21/21-11/21`

`21 10/21`

Answer 2

The answer is `21 10/21`.

Explanation:

`47-(14+3/7)-(11+2/21)`

`=47-14-11-(3/7+2/21)`

`=47-25-(11/21)`

`=22-11/21`

`=(462-11)/21`

`=451/21`

`=21+10/21`

`=21 10/21`