How to Add Fractions: Examples and Steps
Adding fractions is a common math problem that children study in school. It can seem daunting initially, but it turns easy with a tiny bit of practice.
This blog post will take you through the process of adding two or more fractions and adding mixed fractions. We will ,on top of that, provide examples to demonstrate what must be done. Adding fractions is necessary for several subjects as you move ahead in science and math, so make sure to learn these skills early!
The Steps of Adding Fractions
Adding fractions is an ability that numerous students struggle with. Nevertheless, it is a somewhat hassle-free process once you understand the basic principles. There are three primary steps to adding fractions: determining a common denominator, adding the numerators, and simplifying the results. Let’s carefully analyze every one of these steps, and then we’ll work on some examples.
Step 1: Look for a Common Denominator
With these valuable tips, you’ll be adding fractions like a expert in no time! The first step is to look for a common denominator for the two fractions you are adding. The smallest common denominator is the lowest number that both fractions will share evenly.
If the fractions you desire to add share the identical denominator, you can avoid this step. If not, to look for the common denominator, you can determine the amount of the factors of each number as far as you find a common one.
For example, let’s say we desire to add the fractions 1/3 and 1/6. The smallest common denominator for these two fractions is six in view of the fact that both denominators will divide evenly into that number.
Here’s a quick tip: if you are not sure about this process, you can multiply both denominators, and you will [[also|subsequently80] get a common denominator, which should be 18.
Step Two: Adding the Numerators
Now that you possess the common denominator, the next step is to change each fraction so that it has that denominator.
To turn these into an equivalent fraction with the exact denominator, you will multiply both the denominator and numerator by the same number required to get the common denominator.
Following the last example, six will become the common denominator. To convert the numerators, we will multiply 1/3 by 2 to attain 2/6, while 1/6 would stay the same.
Now that both the fractions share common denominators, we can add the numerators together to get 3/6, a proper fraction that we will continue to simplify.
Step Three: Simplifying the Answers
The final step is to simplify the fraction. Consequently, it means we are required to diminish the fraction to its minimum terms. To obtain this, we look for 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 concluding answer of 1/2.
You go by the same process to add and subtract fractions.
Examples of How to Add Fractions
Now, let’s continue to add these two fractions:
2/4 + 6/4
By utilizing the steps above, you will notice that they share the same denominators. Lucky you, this means you can skip the initial step. At the moment, all you have to do is sum of the numerators and leave the same denominator as it was.
2/4 + 6/4 = 8/4
Now, let’s try to simplify the fraction. We can see that this is an improper fraction, as the numerator is greater than the denominator. This could indicate that you could 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 conclusive result of 2 by dividing the numerator and denominator by 2.
Considering you follow these procedures when dividing two or more fractions, you’ll be a pro at adding fractions in a matter of time.
Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators
The procedure will require an additional 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 stated above, to add unlike fractions, you must obey all three procedures mentioned prior to change these unlike denominators into equivalent fractions
Examples of How to Add Fractions with Unlike Denominators
Here, we will put more emphasis on another example by summing up the following fractions:
1/6+2/3+6/4
As you can see, the denominators are different, and the lowest common multiple is 12. Therefore, we multiply each fraction by a value to get 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 proceed to total the numerators:
2/12 + 8/12 + 18/12 = 28/12
We simplify the fraction by dividing the numerator and denominator by 4, finding a ultimate answer of 7/3.
Adding Mixed Numbers
We have discussed like and unlike fractions, but presently we will go through mixed fractions. These are fractions followed by whole numbers.
The Steps to Adding Mixed Numbers
To solve addition exercises with mixed numbers, you must initiate by changing 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 answer as a numerator and retain the denominator.
Now, you go ahead by adding these unlike fractions as you usually would.
Examples of How to Add Mixed Numbers
As an example, we will solve 1 3/4 + 5/4.
First, let’s transform the mixed number into a fraction. You are required to multiply the whole number by the denominator, which is 4. 1 = 4/4
Thereafter, 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 operation:
7/4 + 5/4
By summing the numerators with the similar denominator, we will have a ultimate answer of 12/4. We simplify the fraction by dividing both the numerator and denominator by 4, resulting in 3 as a conclusive result.
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