Subtracting fractions with same and different denominators, including from whole numbers.
Where your child meets this in real life: Finding remaining quantities (how much pizza is left after eating some)
SEAGReady breaks subtract fractions into 3 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Subtract fractions with the same denominator by subtracting the numerators and keeping the denominator (e.g., 5/8 − 2/8 = 3/8)
Subtract fractions with different denominators by first changing them to equivalent fractions with a common denominator (e.g., 3/4 − 1/3 = 9/12 − 4/12 = 5/12)
Subtract a fraction from a whole number by writing the whole number as a fraction with the same denominator (e.g., 2 − 5/8 = 16/8 − 5/8 = 11/8)
Try three free questions from our subtract fractions course. They start easy and get harder, so you can see where your child's confidence runs out. If they manage the last one without a hint, this topic is probably secure. If not, the steps above show where to start.
Charlotte has 7/8 of a chocolate bar. She gives 3/8 to her brother Harry. What fraction of the chocolate bar does Charlotte have left?
Aaron walked 2/3 of a kilometre to school. Charlotte walked 1/4 of a kilometre. How much further did Aaron walk than Charlotte?
Aaron bought 3 metres of rope. He used 7/8 of a metre for a swing and 3/4 of a metre for a climbing rope. How much rope does he have left?
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Ellie has ⁵⁄₈ of a pizza left over from dinner. She eats ²⁄₈ for breakfast.
What fraction of the pizza does Ellie have now?
⁵⁄₈ − ²⁄₈
Both fractions have denominator 8
Step 1 of 4
Ellie has ⁵⁄₈ of a pizza left over from dinner. She eats ²⁄₈ for breakfast.
What fraction of the pizza does Ellie have now?
Ellie has ³⁄₈ of the pizza left.
The key insight: When denominators are the same, just subtract the numerators and keep the denominator!
Common mix-up: ⁵⁄₈ − ²⁄₈ = ³⁄₀. You subtract the numerators but keep the denominator - never subtract denominators!
These are the misconceptions we see most often in subtract fractions, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Struggling with subtract fractions? The real gap is often in one of these earlier topics.
Sitting the SEAG test this November? Read our last-month revision plan, Paper 1 vs Paper 2 and test day guide.
SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.
Free to start · no card needed