Subtract 8-4 1/2. A. 3 B. 4 C. 4 1/2 D. 3 1/2

1.An expression of the form [tex]a \frac{b}{c}[/tex] is called a "compound fraction" Compound fractions can be written as simple fractions by multiplying c to a, and then adding the product to c as follows:[tex]a \frac{b}{c}= \frac{c.a+b}{c}[/tex]for example, [tex]4\frac{1}{2}[/tex] can be written as: [tex]4\frac{1}{2}= \frac{2.4+1}{2}=\frac{9}{2}[/tex]2.when we subtract or add a fraction [tex] \frac{m}{n} [/tex] from an integer k, we first write k as a fraction with denominator n. We can do this as follows:[tex]k=k. \frac{n}{n}= \frac{kn}{n} [/tex]for example, if we want to subtract [tex] \frac{9}{2} [/tex] from 8, we first write 8 as a fraction with denominator 2:[tex]8=8. \frac{2}{2}= \frac{8.2}{2}= \frac{16}{2} [/tex]3.Thus, [tex]8-4 \frac{1}{2}= \frac{16}{2}- \frac{9}{2}= \frac{16-9}{2}= \frac{7}{2} [/tex]4.The simple fraction 7/2 is not an option, so we write it as a compound fraction as follows:[tex] \frac{7}{2}= \frac{6+1}{2}= \frac{6}{2}+ \frac{1}{2}=3+ \frac{1}{2}=3\frac{1}{2} [/tex](So write 7 as the sum of the largest multiple of 2, smaller than 7 + what is left. In our case these numbers are 6 and 1, then proceed as shown)5. Answer: D

Think about it logically. The answer is 4 1/2, since 4 was subtracted from 8, and there is still the 1/2.