How to Add Fractions: Examples and Steps
Adding fractions is a common math operation that children learn in school. It can appear daunting at first, but it can be simple with a tiny bit of practice.
This blog article will take you through the steps of adding two or more fractions and adding mixed fractions. We will also give examples to demonstrate what must be done. Adding fractions is necessary for several subjects as you progress in math and science, so ensure to adopt these skills early!
The Procedures for Adding Fractions
Adding fractions is an ability that a lot of kids struggle with. However, it is a somewhat easy process once you understand the basic principles. There are three major steps to adding fractions: finding a common denominator, adding the numerators, and simplifying the answer. Let’s carefully analyze every one of these steps, and then we’ll do some examples.
Step 1: Look for a Common Denominator
With these valuable points, you’ll be adding fractions like a expert in a flash! The first step is to look for a common denominator for the two fractions you are adding. The least common denominator is the minimum number that both fractions will share equally.
If the fractions you desire to sum share the identical denominator, you can avoid this step. If not, to look for the common denominator, you can list out the factors of each number as far as you find a common one.
For example, let’s assume we want to add the fractions 1/3 and 1/6. The lowest common denominator for these two fractions is six because both denominators will divide evenly into that number.
Here’s a good tip: if you are uncertain about this step, you can multiply both denominators, and you will [[also|subsequently80] get a common denominator, which would be 18.
Step Two: Adding the Numerators
Now that you possess the common denominator, the immediate step is to change each fraction so that it has that denominator.
To change these into an equivalent fraction with the same denominator, you will multiply both the denominator and numerator by the identical number needed to get the common denominator.
Subsequently the last example, 6 will become the common denominator. To change the numerators, we will multiply 1/3 by 2 to achieve 2/6, while 1/6 will stay the same.
Since both the fractions share common denominators, we can add the numerators collectively to attain 3/6, a proper fraction that we will proceed to simplify.
Step Three: Simplifying the Results
The last step is to simplify the fraction. Consequently, it means we need to reduce the fraction to its lowest terms. To achieve this, we find the most common factor of the numerator and denominator and divide them by it. In our example, the largest common factor of 3 and 6 is 3. When we divide both numbers by 3, we get the final result of 1/2.
You follow the exact procedure to add and subtract fractions.
Examples of How to Add Fractions
Now, let’s proceed to add these two fractions:
2/4 + 6/4
By using the process shown above, you will see that they share identical denominators. Lucky for you, this means you can avoid the initial stage. At the moment, all you have to do is sum of the numerators and leave the same denominator as before.
2/4 + 6/4 = 8/4
Now, let’s attempt to simplify the fraction. We can perceive that this is an improper fraction, as the numerator is greater than the denominator. This may indicate that you can simplify the fraction, but this is not possible when we deal with proper and improper fractions.
In this example, the numerator and denominator can be divided by 4, its most common denominator. You will get a ultimate result of 2 by dividing the numerator and denominator by two.
As long as you follow these steps when dividing two or more fractions, you’ll be a expert at adding fractions in no time.
Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators
This process will require an additional step when you add or subtract fractions with distinct denominators. To do this function with two or more fractions, they must have the identical denominator.
The Steps to Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators
As we have said before this, to add unlike fractions, you must follow all three steps stated above to transform these unlike denominators into equivalent fractions
Examples of How to Add Fractions with Unlike Denominators
At this point, we will focus on another example by summing up the following fractions:
1/6+2/3+6/4
As you can see, the denominators are dissimilar, and the lowest common multiple is 12. Thus, we multiply every fraction by a value to attain the denominator of 12.
1/6 * 2 = 2/12
2/3 * 4 = 8/12
6/4 * 3 = 18/12
Considering that all the fractions have a common denominator, we will move ahead to total the numerators:
2/12 + 8/12 + 18/12 = 28/12
We simplify the fraction by dividing the numerator and denominator by 4, coming to the final result of 7/3.
Adding Mixed Numbers
We have discussed like and unlike fractions, but now we will go through mixed fractions. These are fractions accompanied by whole numbers.
The Steps to Adding Mixed Numbers
To figure out addition problems with mixed numbers, you must initiate by turning the mixed number into a fraction. Here are the steps and keep reading for an example.
Step 1
Multiply the whole number by the numerator
Step 2
Add that number to the numerator.
Step 3
Write down your result as a numerator and retain the denominator.
Now, you proceed by adding these unlike fractions as you usually would.
Examples of How to Add Mixed Numbers
As an example, we will work out 1 3/4 + 5/4.
First, let’s convert the mixed number into a fraction. You are required to multiply the whole number by the denominator, which is 4. 1 = 4/4
Then, add the whole number represented as a fraction to the other fraction in the mixed number.
4/4 + 3/4 = 7/4
You will conclude with this result:
7/4 + 5/4
By adding the numerators with the similar denominator, we will have a conclusive answer of 12/4. We simplify the fraction by dividing both the numerator and denominator by 4, resulting in 3 as a final result.
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