42/9-3 1/3can you find the difference and write it in the simplest form.

If you want to learn to solve it continue reading. If you just want the answer its at the end.

  4 2/9
- 3 1/3

we need to make the denominator on both fractions the same so we need to find the GCF (Greatest Common Factor).

One way to so that is to see if we can get the lower denominator /3 into the higher denominator /9.

If you multiply 3 till you get 9 you'll end up with X 3. 
(another way is: 3 + 3 = 6 + 3 = 9)

So, since 3 goes into 9. You multiply the fraction with the denominator /3 by 3.

so 1/3 x 3 

remember to multiply both the numerator (top) and denominator (bottom) by 3. It should look like:

1  x 3
3  x 3 

answering this would go like:

1 x 3 = 3
3 x 3 = 9

use your answer to replace the 1/3. Your problem equation would then be:

 4 2/9
-3 3/9

to solve you need a higher numerator for your top fraction so we borrow from the whole number. 
[reminder: if 1/1 = 1 then to turn 1 into a fraction the numerator and denominator MUST be the same.]

Since our denominator is 9 well make the borrowed 1 (from the whole number 4) into 9/9

add your borrowed whole number (which we just turned into a fraction) into the current fraction.

so your new problem will be:

 3 11/9
-3 3/9

then you just subtract:
3 - 3 = 0 (so no whole numbers)

11 - 3
9     9

just focus on the numerator, the  denominator will remain the same 

so 11 - 3 = 8

your new fraction would be 8/9

since 8 and 9 can't be divided by the same numbers your answer would be:

8
9