Add/Subtract the fraction in lowest term 5 1/2-1 3/4
To solve this problem, we can convert the mixed numbers 5 1/2 and 1 3/4 into improper fractions.
To convert 5 1/2 into an improper fraction, we multiply the whole number (5) by the denominator (2) and add the numerator (1) to get the new numerator. Thus, 5 1/2 becomes (5 * 2 + 1) / 2 = 11/2.
To convert 1 3/4 into an improper fraction, we follow the same process. We multiply the whole number (1) by the denominator (4) and add the numerator (3) to get the new numerator. Thus, 1 3/4 becomes (1 * 4 + 3) / 4 = 7/4.
Now we can perform the subtraction. Subtracting 7/4 from 11/2, we need to find a common denominator. The least common multiple of 2 and 4 is 4, so we can rewrite the fractions with the common denominator of 4.
11/2 = (11 * 2) / (2 * 2) = 22/4
7/4 = 7/4
Now we can subtract the fractions:
22/4 - 7/4 = (22 - 7) / 4 = 15/4
The difference, in lowest terms, is 15/4.