2/5 minus what equals 3/8?

Here we will show you how to calculate "what" in this sentence: "2/5 minus what equals 3/8?" We start by making this word problem into an algebraic equation where "what" is the variable "x".

2/5 - x = 3/8

To solve this equation, we want x alone on the left side of the equation so we start by subtracting 2/5 on both sides like this:

2/5 - 2/5 - x = 3/8 - 2/5

2/5 - 2/5 - x leaves -x and 3/8 - 2/5 is -1/40 which means we end up with -x = -1/40. Then, you multiply each side by -1 to get x = 1/40. Therefore, the answer to "2/5 minus what equals 3/8?" is as follows:

1/40

It is always good to double-check your math to make sure you did it right. When we entered 1/40 for x in this equation 2/5 - x = 3/8, we get the following true equation which means our math is correct.

2/5 - 1/40 = 3/8

Fraction Minus What Equals Fraction Calculator
Here you can submit another "a/b minus what equals c/d?" word problem that we can solve with basic algebra.

2/5 minus what equals 3/9?
Go here for the next word problem that we have tackled with math.