3 2/7 minus (1 6/7 + 2/5) =

First, let's make all the mixed fractions into improper fractions. To do that, we multiply the whole number by the denominator and add the numerator; this new number becomes the numerator while we keep the same denominator, thus:

3 2/7 = 3 * 7 + 2 / 7 = 21 + 2 / 7 = 23/7

1 6/7 = 1 * 7 + 6 / 7 = 7 + 6 / 7 = 13/7

Our new problem is

23/7 - (13/7 + 2/5)

The next step to be able to simplify this is to have common denominators. To do that here, we will multiply the first two fractions by 5/5 and the third fraction by 7/7, thereby making all three fractions have a denominator of 35:

5/5 (23/7) - [5/5 (13/7) + 7/7 (2/5) ]

115/35 - (65/35 + 14/35)

Finally, we can add the fractions in the parenthesis, and then subtract that number from 115/35:

115/35 - 79/35

36/35

Answer:

36/35