How to Add Fractions: Examples and Steps
Adding fractions is a common math operation that kids study in school. It can appear scary initially, but it can be easy with a shred of practice.
This blog article will take you through the procedure of adding two or more fractions and adding mixed fractions. We will ,on top of that, provide examples to see how it is done. Adding fractions is essential for a lot of subjects as you advance in math and science, so make sure to adopt these skills initially!
The Process of Adding Fractions
Adding fractions is an ability that many kids have difficulty with. However, it is a relatively easy process once you master the essential principles. There are three major steps to adding fractions: looking for a common denominator, adding the numerators, and simplifying the answer. Let’s closely study 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 pro in an instant! The initial step is to determine a common denominator for the two fractions you are adding. The least common denominator is the lowest number that both fractions will divide uniformly.
If the fractions you want to sum share the identical 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 until you look for 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 for the reason that both denominators will split evenly into that number.
Here’s a great tip: if you are unsure about 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 acquired the common denominator, the next step is to turn each fraction so that it has that denominator.
To change these into an equivalent fraction with an identical denominator, you will multiply both the denominator and numerator by the identical number required to achieve the common denominator.
Subsequently the last 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 will stay the same.
Now that both the fractions share common denominators, we can add the numerators simultaneously to achieve 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. Doing so means we are required to lower 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 greatest common factor of 3 and 6 is 3. When we divide both numbers by 3, we get the concluding answer of 1/2.
You go by the same steps 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 using the procedures mentioned above, you will observe 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 let it 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 higher than the denominator. This could suggest that you could 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 conclusive answer of 2 by dividing the numerator and denominator by 2.
As long as you follow these steps when dividing two or more fractions, you’ll be a expert at adding fractions in a matter of time.
Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators
This process will require an additional step when you add or subtract fractions with different 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 mentioned prior to this, to add unlike fractions, you must follow all three steps mentioned above to change these unlike denominators into equivalent fractions
Examples of How to Add Fractions with Unlike Denominators
At this point, we will focus on another example by adding the following fractions:
1/6+2/3+6/4
As shown, the denominators are distinct, and the least common multiple is 12. Hence, we multiply every fraction by a value to get 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 splitting the numerator and denominator by 4, finding a final result 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 followed by whole numbers.
The Steps to Adding Mixed Numbers
To figure out addition exercises with mixed numbers, you must initiate 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
Note down your answer as a numerator and retain the denominator.
Now, you go ahead by adding these unlike fractions as you generally 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 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 ultimate 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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