Free Grade 3 Subtracting Fractions Lessons
Free Grade 3 lessons for Subtracting Fractions: 12 real questions with a full answer key and worked solutions. Subtracting fractions works like adding: match the denominators, subtract the numerators, simplify.
Free
Stretch
35 min
24
Learning objectives
Every objective is checkable, and each one maps to an activity and an assessment.
- UnderstandExplain subtracting fractions
Explain subtracting fractions accurately in a familiar context.
Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items
- ApplyCalculate subtracting fractions
Calculate subtracting fractions accurately in a familiar context.
Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items
- AnalyseCompare subtracting fractions
Compare subtracting fractions accurately in a familiar context.
Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items
- EvaluateJustify subtracting fractions
Justify subtracting fractions accurately in a familiar context.
Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items
Prerequisites
Close these gaps first — each has its own free lesson, worksheet and quiz.
How Subtracting Fractions works
Subtracting fractions works like adding: match the denominators, subtract the numerators, simplify.
12 practice questions
Easy to hard, 24 marks in total. Try them first, then open the answers.
- 1.5/9 − 2/9 = ?[1]
- 2.1/2 − 1/2 = ?[1]
- 3.7/8 − 1/8 = ?[1]
- 4.4/7 − 4/7 = ?[1]
- 5.5/9 − 1/4 = ?[2]
- 6.1/2 − 1/7 = ?[2]
- 7.1/2 − 1/5 = ?[2]
- 8.3/6 − 2/4 = ?[2]
- 9.1/3 − 1/8 = ?[3]
- 10.2/2 − 2/8 = ?[3]
- 11.1/2 − 2/5 = ?[3]
- 12.1/2 − 1/4 = ?[3]
Show answers and working
1. 1/3
Common denominator: 9. 5/9 − 2/9 = 3/9. Simplify: 1/3
2. 0
Common denominator: 2. 1/2 − 1/2 = 0/2. Simplify: 0
3. 3/4
Common denominator: 8. 7/8 − 1/8 = 6/8. Simplify: 3/4
4. 0
Common denominator: 7. 4/7 − 4/7 = 0/7. Simplify: 0
5. 11/36
Common denominator: 36. 20/36 − 9/36 = 11/36. Simplify: 11/36
6. 5/14
Common denominator: 14. 7/14 − 2/14 = 5/14. Simplify: 5/14
7. 3/10
Common denominator: 10. 5/10 − 2/10 = 3/10. Simplify: 3/10
8. 0
Common denominator: 12. 6/12 − 6/12 = 0/12. Simplify: 0
9. 5/24
Common denominator: 24. 8/24 − 3/24 = 5/24. Simplify: 5/24
10. 3/4
Common denominator: 8. 8/8 − 2/8 = 6/8. Simplify: 3/4
11. 1/10
Common denominator: 10. 5/10 − 4/10 = 1/10. Simplify: 1/10
12. 1/4
Common denominator: 4. 2/4 − 1/4 = 1/4. Simplify: 1/4
Worked examples
5/6 − 4/6 = ?
- Common denominator: 6.
- 5/6 − 4/6 = 1/6.
- Simplify: 1/6
- Answer: 1/6
2/3 − 1/5 = ?
- Common denominator: 15.
- 10/15 − 3/15 = 7/15.
- Simplify: 7/15
- Answer: 7/15
5/6 − 3/7 = ?
- Common denominator: 42.
- 35/42 − 18/42 = 17/42.
- Simplify: 17/42
- Answer: 17/42
Interactive practice
Free, no account required — answer on screen or print it.
Common mistakes
What learners typically get wrong, and how to fix it.
Subtracts the denominators.
Correction: Keep the common denominator — only the numerators change.
Puts the smaller fraction first.
Correction: Compare the fractions first to see which is bigger.
Teacher tips
- · Ask for a quick estimate: is the answer more or less than 1/2?
Parent tips
- · Ask how much pizza is left after some is eaten.
Real-life applications
- · Working out how much is left after using part of something.
Assessment objectives
How mastery is evidenced, and which standards it maps to.
Every free resource for Subtracting Fractions
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Frequently asked
- Is this Grade 3 Subtracting Fractions lesson really free?
- Yes. Every lessons on FreeMathWorksheet is free to use, print and share — no account, no paywall and no watermark.
- What should a learner already know before this?
- Start with Adding Fractions, Fraction Models, Integers. Each one has its own free lesson, worksheet and quiz.
- How is the lesson sequenced?
- Recognition first, then understanding, application, reasoning and finally mastery — the same ladder used across every free resource on the platform.
- What comes next after Subtracting Fractions?
- Move on to Multiplying Fractions, Dividing Fractions, Fraction of a Quantity, Fractions to Decimals, which build directly on this idea.
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