How to Add Fractions: Steps and Examples
Adding fractions is a usual math operation that kids study in school. It can appear daunting initially, but it becomes simple with a tiny bit of practice.
This blog article will walk you through the process of adding two or more fractions and adding mixed fractions. We will then give examples to demonstrate how it is done. Adding fractions is essential for various subjects as you advance in mathematics and science, so ensure to adopt these skills initially!
The Process of Adding Fractions
Adding fractions is a skill that a lot of kids have difficulty with. However, it is a moderately hassle-free process once you grasp the basic principles. There are three major steps to adding fractions: determining a common denominator, adding the numerators, and simplifying the results. Let’s take a closer look at every one of these steps, and then we’ll look into some examples.
Step 1: Determining a Common Denominator
With these useful points, you’ll be adding fractions like a expert in an instant! The initial step is to find a common denominator for the two fractions you are adding. The least common denominator is the lowest number that both fractions will divide evenly.
If the fractions you wish to add share the identical denominator, you can skip this step. If not, to look for the common denominator, you can list out the factors of respective number until you look for a common one.
For example, let’s assume we wish to add the fractions 1/3 and 1/6. The smallest common denominator for these two fractions is six because both denominators will divide uniformly into that number.
Here’s a quick tip: if you are not sure regarding 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 acquired the common denominator, the immediate step is to convert each fraction so that it has that denominator.
To convert these into an equivalent fraction with the exact denominator, you will multiply both the denominator and numerator by the exact number required to attain the common denominator.
Subsequently the prior example, 6 will become the common denominator. To change the numerators, we will multiply 1/3 by 2 to attain 2/6, while 1/6 would remain 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: Streamlining the Answers
The final step is to simplify the fraction. Doing so means we need to diminish the fraction to its minimum 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 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 proceed to add these two fractions:
2/4 + 6/4
By applying the procedures mentioned above, you will notice that they share equivalent denominators. Lucky for you, this means you can skip the first step. Now, all you have to do is add the numerators and allow it to be the same denominator as it was.
2/4 + 6/4 = 8/4
Now, let’s attempt to simplify the fraction. We can notice that this is an improper fraction, as the numerator is higher than the denominator. This may suggest 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 final result of 2 by dividing the numerator and denominator by two.
As long as you go by these steps when dividing two or more fractions, you’ll be a professional 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 dissimilar denominators. To do this function with two or more fractions, they must have the exact denominator.
The Steps to Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators
As we mentioned prior to this, to add unlike fractions, you must follow all three steps stated above to change these unlike denominators into equivalent fractions
Examples of How to Add Fractions with Unlike Denominators
At this point, we will concentrate on another example by summing up the following fractions:
1/6+2/3+6/4
As shown, the denominators are dissimilar, and the lowest 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 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 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 followed by whole numbers.
The Steps to Adding Mixed Numbers
To work 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 work out 1 3/4 + 5/4.
Foremost, 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
Next, add the whole number represented as a fraction to the other fraction in the mixed number.
4/4 + 3/4 = 7/4
You will end up with this operation:
7/4 + 5/4
By summing the numerators with the similar denominator, we will have a final result 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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