Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

What is the result of the expression 5/9 minus 2/5 using the bowtie method?

1. 1/5

2. 7/45

3. 1/9

4. 3/10

The correct answer is: 7/45

To solve the expression \( \frac{5}{9} - \frac{2}{5} \) using the bowtie method, which is a visual approach often used for finding a common denominator, follow these steps: First, identify the denominators of the two fractions, which are 9 and 5. The least common denominator (LCD) of these two numbers is 45. This is the smallest number that is a multiple of both denominators. Next, convert each fraction to an equivalent fraction with the LCD: - For \( \frac{5}{9} \): \[ \frac{5}{9} = \frac{5 \times 5}{9 \times 5} = \frac{25}{45} \] - For \( \frac{2}{5} \): \[ \frac{2}{5} = \frac{2 \times 9}{5 \times 9} = \frac{18}{45} \] Now, you can perform the subtraction: \[ \frac{25}{45} - \frac{18}{45} = \frac{25 - 18}{45} = \frac{7}{45}