How to Subtract Fractions Using the Butterfly Method

The Organic Chemistry Tutor

This concise math tutorial demonstrates how to subtract fractions with unlike denominators using the "Butterfly Method," a popular visual shortcut for fraction operations. The video walks viewers through two distinct examples: first subtracting 2/7 from 4/5, and then a practice problem subtracting 2/9 from 5/8. The narrator uses a digital whiteboard to visually map out the cross-multiplication steps that form the "wings" of the butterfly, making the abstract process easier to visualize. The key theme of the video is procedural fluency in arithmetic. It focuses specifically on the order of operations required when applying this method to subtraction, emphasizing which diagonal product must come first to avoid negative answers (in positive contexts) or incorrect results. The video also covers basic multi-digit subtraction skills as part of the final simplification process. For educators, this video serves as an excellent intervention tool or alternative strategy for students struggling with the traditional method of finding the Least Common Multiple (LCM). It provides a reliable algorithm that works for any pair of fractions. Teachers can use this to introduce the concept, support remedial learning, or offer a "speed method" for quick mental math checks during complex problems.