1. **State the problem:** Simplify the expression $\frac{21w}{10} - w - 1$. 2. **Recall the rule:** To combine terms with the variable $w$, they must have a common denominator. 3. **Rewrite $w$ as a fraction:** $w = \frac{10w}{10}$ to have the same denominator 10. 4. **Substitute and combine:** $$\frac{21w}{10} - \frac{10w}{10} - 1 = \frac{21w - 10w}{10} - 1$$ 5. **Simplify the numerator:** $$\frac{21w - 10w}{10} - 1 = \frac{11w}{10} - 1$$ 6. **Final simplified expression:** $\frac{11w}{10} - 1$. This is the simplest form since $\frac{11w}{10}$ and $1$ cannot be combined further.