How to Add Fractions: Steps and Examples
Adding fractions is a common math operation that children study in school. It can look scary at first, but it becomes simple with a bit of practice.
This blog post will guide the steps of adding two or more fractions and adding mixed fractions. We will then give examples to show how it is done. Adding fractions is crucial for various subjects as you move ahead in mathematics and science, so make sure to learn these skills initially!
The Process of Adding Fractions
Adding fractions is a skill that a lot of kids struggle with. Nevertheless, it is a relatively easy process once you master the basic principles. There are three primary steps to adding fractions: determining a common denominator, adding the numerators, and streamlining the answer. Let’s carefully analyze every one of these steps, and then we’ll look into some examples.
Step 1: Look for 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 minimum number that both fractions will split equally.
If the fractions you want to add share the same denominator, you can skip this step. If not, to look for the common denominator, you can determine the number of the factors of respective number as far as you find a common one.
For example, let’s say 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 split uniformly into that number.
Here’s a good tip: if you are uncertain regarding this step, you can multiply both denominators, and you will [[also|subsequently80] get a common denominator, which would be 18.
Step Two: Adding the Numerators
Once 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 an identical denominator, you will multiply both the denominator and numerator by the exact number necessary to get the common denominator.
Following 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 stay the same.
Now that both the fractions share common denominators, we can add the numerators together to attain 3/6, a proper fraction that we will be moving forward to simplify.
Step Three: Simplifying the Results
The last step is to simplify the fraction. Consequently, it means we are required to lower 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 go by the exact process 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 notice that they share equivalent denominators. You are lucky, this means you can skip the first stage. 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 perceive that this is an improper fraction, as the numerator is greater than the denominator. This might indicate that you can simplify the fraction, but this is not feasible when we work 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 answer of 2 by dividing the numerator and denominator by 2.
As long as you follow these procedures when dividing two or more fractions, you’ll be a professional at adding fractions in matter of days.
Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators
The procedure will need 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 follow all three procedures stated prior to transform these unlike denominators into equivalent fractions
Examples of How to Add Fractions with Unlike Denominators
Here, we will concentrate on another example by adding the following fractions:
1/6+2/3+6/4
As demonstrated, the denominators are dissimilar, and the least common multiple is 12. Hence, we multiply every 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, coming to the final answer of 7/3.
Adding Mixed Numbers
We have discussed like and unlike fractions, but now we will revise through mixed fractions. These are fractions followed by whole numbers.
The Steps to Adding Mixed Numbers
To figure out addition problems with mixed numbers, you must start 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 retain the denominator.
Now, you go ahead by adding these unlike fractions as you normally would.
Examples of How to Add Mixed Numbers
As an example, we will work with 1 3/4 + 5/4.
First, let’s convert the mixed number into a fraction. You are required to multiply the whole number by the denominator, which is 4. 1 = 4/4
Then, add the whole number described as a fraction to the other fraction in the mixed number.
4/4 + 3/4 = 7/4
You will end up 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 final answer.
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