How to Add Fractions: Examples and Steps
Adding fractions is a usual math operation that kids learn in school. It can look daunting at first, but it becomes easy 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 provide examples to demonstrate what must be done. Adding fractions is crucial for several subjects as you advance in science and math, so make sure to learn these skills early!
The Steps of Adding Fractions
Adding fractions is an ability that numerous kids struggle with. However, it is a somewhat simple process once you understand the essential principles. There are three major steps to adding fractions: determining a common denominator, adding the numerators, and streamlining 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 helpful points, you’ll be adding fractions like a pro 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 minimum number that both fractions will split equally.
If the fractions you desire to add share the same denominator, you can avoid this step. If not, to determine the common denominator, you can determine the amount of the factors of each number until 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 in view of the fact that both denominators will divide evenly into that number.
Here’s a quick tip: if you are uncertain regarding 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
Once you have the common denominator, the following step is to turn each fraction so that it has that denominator.
To convert these into an equivalent fraction with the same denominator, you will multiply both the denominator and numerator by the identical number needed to achieve 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 achieve 2/6, while 1/6 will remain the same.
Now that both the fractions share common denominators, we can add the numerators together to achieve 3/6, a proper fraction that we will proceed to simplify.
Step Three: Simplifying the Results
The final process is to simplify the fraction. Doing so means we are required to reduce 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 ultimate result of 1/2.
You follow the same steps 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 utilizing the process shown above, you will notice that they share the same denominators. You are lucky, this means you can skip the first step. 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 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 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.
Provided that 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
This process will require an extra step when you add or subtract fractions with distinct denominators. To do these operations with two or more fractions, they must have the same denominator.
The Steps to Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators
As we have said above, to add unlike fractions, you must obey all three steps stated prior to transform these unlike denominators into equivalent fractions
Examples of How to Add Fractions with Unlike Denominators
At this point, we will put more emphasis on another example by summing up the following fractions:
1/6+2/3+6/4
As demonstrated, the denominators are distinct, and the least common multiple is 12. Thus, we multiply each fraction by a number to attain the denominator of 12.
1/6 * 2 = 2/12
2/3 * 4 = 8/12
6/4 * 3 = 18/12
Now that 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, finding a final answer of 7/3.
Adding Mixed Numbers
We have talked about like and unlike fractions, but now we will revise through mixed fractions. These are fractions accompanied by whole numbers.
The Steps to Adding Mixed Numbers
To solve 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 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.
First, let’s change 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 conclude with this operation:
7/4 + 5/4
By summing the numerators with the exact 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 conclusive result.
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