How to Add Fractions: Steps and Examples
Adding fractions is a usual math application that children study in school. It can seem scary at first, but it can be easy with a tiny bit of practice.
This blog article will guide the process of adding two or more fractions and adding mixed fractions. We will then provide examples to demonstrate how this is done. Adding fractions is crucial for various subjects as you move ahead in math and science, so be sure to adopt these skills early!
The Steps of Adding Fractions
Adding fractions is an ability that numerous students have a problem with. Despite that, it is a somewhat simple process once you master the essential principles. There are three primary steps to adding fractions: finding a common denominator, adding the numerators, and simplifying the answer. Let’s take a closer look at each of these steps, and then we’ll do some examples.
Step 1: Finding a Common Denominator
With these useful tips, you’ll be adding fractions like a expert in no time! The first step is to find a common denominator for the two fractions you are adding. The smallest common denominator is the minimum number that both fractions will share equally.
If the fractions you wish to add share the equal denominator, you can skip this step. If not, to find the common denominator, you can list out the factors of each number until you determine a common one.
For example, let’s say we want to add the fractions 1/3 and 1/6. The smallest common denominator for these two fractions is six because both denominators will divide equally into that number.
Here’s a great tip: if you are uncertain regarding this process, 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 acquired the common denominator, the following step is to turn each fraction so that it has that denominator.
To change these into an equivalent fraction with the exact 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 convert the numerators, we will multiply 1/3 by 2 to get 2/6, while 1/6 would remain the same.
Since both the fractions share common denominators, we can add the numerators simultaneously to achieve 3/6, a proper fraction that we will proceed to simplify.
Step Three: Simplifying the Answers
The final step is to simplify the fraction. As a result, it means we are required to diminish the fraction to its minimum terms. To obtain this, we find the most common factor of the numerator and denominator and divide them by it. In our example, the biggest 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 same steps 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 notice that they share the same denominators. Lucky for you, this means you can skip the first stage. At the moment, all you have to do is sum of the numerators and let it be the same denominator as before.
2/4 + 6/4 = 8/4
Now, let’s try to simplify the fraction. We can perceive that this is an improper fraction, as the numerator is greater than the denominator. This might suggest that you could simplify the fraction, but this is not necessarily the case with proper and improper fractions.
In this instance, 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 go by these procedures when dividing two or more fractions, you’ll be a expert at adding fractions in matter of days.
Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators
The procedure will need an extra step when you add or subtract fractions with different 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 mentioned before this, to add unlike fractions, you must obey all three procedures mentioned 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 demonstrated, the denominators are different, and the lowest common multiple is 12. Hence, we multiply each fraction by a value to achieve the denominator of 12.
1/6 * 2 = 2/12
2/3 * 4 = 8/12
6/4 * 3 = 18/12
Once all the fractions have a common denominator, we will go forward to add 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 answer of 7/3.
Adding Mixed Numbers
We have discussed like and unlike fractions, but presently we will touch upon mixed fractions. These are fractions followed by whole numbers.
The Steps to Adding Mixed Numbers
To solve addition sums with mixed numbers, you must initiate by turning the mixed number into a fraction. Here are the procedures 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 answer as a numerator and keep the denominator.
Now, you proceed by summing 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 change the mixed number into a fraction. You will need to multiply the whole number by the denominator, which is 4. 1 = 4/4
Next, add the whole number described as a fraction to the other fraction in the mixed number.
4/4 + 3/4 = 7/4
You will be left with this result:
7/4 + 5/4
By summing the numerators with the similar denominator, we will have a final answer of 12/4. We simplify the fraction by dividing both the numerator and denominator by 4, resulting in 3 as a conclusive answer.
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