How to Add Fractions: Steps and Examples
Adding fractions is a common math problem that students study in school. It can seem daunting initially, but it can be simple with a tiny bit of practice.
This blog post will guide the procedure of adding two or more fractions and adding mixed fractions. We will ,on top of that, give examples to see what must be done. Adding fractions is necessary for several subjects as you move ahead in science and math, so be sure to master these skills early!
The Procedures for Adding Fractions
Adding fractions is an ability that a lot of kids have difficulty with. Nevertheless, it is a somewhat hassle-free process once you grasp the fundamental principles. There are three primary steps to adding fractions: looking for a common denominator, adding the numerators, and streamlining the results. Let’s carefully analyze every one of these steps, and then we’ll look into some examples.
Step 1: Determining a Common Denominator
With these helpful points, you’ll be adding fractions like a professional in no time! The initial 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 split evenly.
If the fractions you wish to add share the equal denominator, you can avoid this step. If not, to look for the common denominator, you can determine the amount of the factors of respective number as far as you find a common one.
For example, let’s assume we desire to add the fractions 1/3 and 1/6. The lowest common denominator for these two fractions is six for the reason that both denominators will split uniformly into that number.
Here’s a great tip: if you are uncertain about this step, 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 acquired the common denominator, the next step is to convert 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 attain the common denominator.
Following the previous 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 would remain the same.
Now that 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: Streamlining the Answers
The last step is to simplify the fraction. Consequently, it means we need to diminish the fraction to its minimum terms. To obtain this, we search for 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 ultimate answer of 1/2.
You go by the same procedure to add and subtract fractions.
Examples of How to Add Fractions
Now, let’s move forward to add these two fractions:
2/4 + 6/4
By using the procedures mentioned above, you will see that they share equivalent denominators. You are lucky, this means you can avoid the first step. At the moment, all you have to do is add the numerators and leave 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 higher than the denominator. This may indicate that you can simplify the fraction, but this is not feasible when we work 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 answer of 2 by dividing the numerator and denominator by two.
Provided that you follow these steps 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 dissimilar denominators. To do these operations 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 obey all three steps stated 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 adding the following fractions:
1/6+2/3+6/4
As you can see, the denominators are different, and the smallest common multiple is 12. Therefore, 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
Since 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 result of 7/3.
Adding Mixed Numbers
We have talked about like and unlike fractions, but now we will touch upon mixed fractions. These are fractions accompanied by whole numbers.
The Steps to Adding Mixed Numbers
To figure out addition exercises with mixed numbers, you must initiate by converting 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
Note down your result as a numerator and keep 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 change the mixed number into a fraction. You will need to multiply the whole number by the denominator, which is 4. 1 = 4/4
Thereafter, 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 summing the numerators with the exact denominator, we will have a final answer of 12/4. We simplify the fraction by dividing both the numerator and denominator by 4, ensuing in 3 as a conclusive result.
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