MHB How to Simplify Fractions with Brackets

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To simplify the expression 19/20 - (1/2 - 3/10), start by solving the brackets first. Calculate 1/2 - 3/10 by finding a common denominator, which is 10, resulting in 5/10 - 3/10. This simplifies to 2/10 or 1/5. Then, subtract this result from 19/20, which can also be expressed with a common denominator of 20 for easier calculation. The final answer can be derived from these steps.
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how do I work out this problem?19/20-(1/2-3/10)
 
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unknown said:
how do I work out this problem?19/20-(1/2-3/10)
With PEDMAS (or any of it's twins) you always start with what's inside the brackets. In this case
[math]\frac{1}{2} - \frac{3}{10}[/math]

Get a common denominator. In this case it is 10. So we have
[math]\frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{5}{5} - \frac{3}{10} = \frac{5}{10} - \frac{3}{10}[/math]

Can you finish from here?

(As a slightly more advanced tip you might want to think about the common denominator of all three fractions. That would be 20.)

-Dan
 

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