How to Add Fractions: Steps and Examples
Adding fractions is a usual math operation that kids study in school. It can seem daunting at first, but it becomes easy with a shred of practice.
This blog article will guide the steps of adding two or more fractions and adding mixed fractions. We will ,on top of that, provide examples to demonstrate how this is done. Adding fractions is essential for several subjects as you move ahead in mathematics and science, so be sure to adopt these skills initially!
The Procedures for Adding Fractions
Adding fractions is a skill that many children struggle with. Nevertheless, it is a somewhat hassle-free process once you master the basic principles. There are three primary steps to adding fractions: finding a common denominator, adding the numerators, and simplifying the results. Let’s closely study every one of these steps, and then we’ll look into some examples.
Step 1: Finding a Common Denominator
With these valuable tips, you’ll be adding fractions like a professional in an instant! The first 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 split equally.
If the fractions you desire to sum share the identical denominator, you can skip this step. If not, to look for the common denominator, you can determine the number of the factors of each number until you look for a common one.
For example, let’s say we wish 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 uniformly into that number.
Here’s a good tip: if you are uncertain regarding this process, you can multiply both denominators, and you will [[also|subsequently80] get a common denominator, which would be 18.
Step Two: Adding the Numerators
Now that you have the common denominator, the following 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 exact number necessary to achieve the common denominator.
Following the previous example, 6 will become the common denominator. To convert the numerators, we will multiply 1/3 by 2 to get 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: Simplifying the Results
The final step is to simplify the fraction. As a result, it means we are required to reduce the fraction to its minimum terms. To obtain this, we find 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 final answer of 1/2.
You go by the same procedure 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 applying the process shown above, you will observe that they share identical denominators. You are lucky, this means you can avoid the initial stage. 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 attempt to simplify the fraction. We can see that this is an improper fraction, as the numerator is larger than the denominator. This might 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.
Provided that you go by these procedures when dividing two or more fractions, you’ll be a pro at adding fractions in no time.
Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators
The procedure will require an extra step when you add or subtract fractions with different 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 stated above, to add unlike fractions, you must obey all three procedures mentioned prior to transform 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 adding the following fractions:
1/6+2/3+6/4
As shown, the denominators are dissimilar, and the lowest common multiple is 12. Hence, we multiply each fraction by a number 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 go forward to add the numerators:
2/12 + 8/12 + 18/12 = 28/12
We simplify the fraction by dividing the numerator and denominator by 4, concluding with a ultimate answer of 7/3.
Adding Mixed Numbers
We have talked about like and unlike fractions, but presently 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 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 usually would.
Examples of How to Add Mixed Numbers
As an example, we will work with 1 3/4 + 5/4.
Foremost, 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
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 be left with this result:
7/4 + 5/4
By adding the numerators with the exact denominator, we will have a conclusive result of 12/4. We simplify the fraction by dividing both the numerator and denominator by 4, ensuing in 3 as a conclusive answer.
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