To solve the equation using the GEMDAS (or PEMDAS) rules, we need to evaluate the expression step by step, following the order of operations.
First, let's simplify the expression inside the parentheses:
1/4 + 1/3
To add these fractions, we need a common denominator. The common denominator of 4 and 3 is 12.
1/4 = 3/12 (equivalent fraction by multiplying numerator and denominator by 3)
1/3 = 4/12 (equivalent fraction by multiplying numerator and denominator by 4)
Now we can add the fractions:
3/12 + 4/12 = 7/12
The expression now becomes:
11/12 - 7/12
Since the denominators are the same, we can subtract the numerators:
11/12 - 7/12 = (11 - 7)/12 = 4/12
Next, we simplify the fraction:
4/12 can be reduced by dividing both the numerator and denominator by 4:
4 ÷ 4 / 12 ÷ 4 = 1/3
So, the solution to the equation is 1/3. make this smaller
To make 1/3 smaller, we can divide both the numerator and denominator by a common factor.
Since 1 and 3 do not have any common factors other than 1, we cannot simplify the fraction any further. Therefore, 1/3 is already in its smallest form.