How to Add Fractions: Examples and Steps
Adding fractions is a usual math application that students study in school. It can appear scary at first, but it becomes easy with a bit of practice.
This blog article will walk you through the process of adding two or more fractions and adding mixed fractions. We will ,on top of that, give examples to see how this is done. Adding fractions is necessary for various subjects as you progress in mathematics and science, so be sure to learn these skills initially!
The Steps of Adding Fractions
Adding fractions is a skill that numerous students have a problem with. Nevertheless, it is a relatively easy process once you grasp the basic principles. There are three major steps to adding fractions: determining a common denominator, adding the numerators, and streamlining the answer. Let’s carefully analyze each of these steps, and then we’ll do some examples.
Step 1: Look for a Common Denominator
With these useful tips, you’ll be adding fractions like a expert in a flash! The initial step is to look for a common denominator for the two fractions you are adding. The smallest common denominator is the minimum number that both fractions will split equally.
If the fractions you want to sum share the same denominator, you can avoid this step. If not, to find the common denominator, you can list out the factors of respective number until you determine a common one.
For example, let’s say we desire 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 split uniformly 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 should be 18.
Step Two: Adding the Numerators
Now that you possess the common denominator, the next step is to change 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 previous 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.
Since both the fractions share common denominators, we can add the numerators together to attain 3/6, a proper fraction that we will continue to simplify.
Step Three: Simplifying the Results
The last process is to simplify the fraction. Doing so means we are required to diminish 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 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 follow the exact 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 utilizing the procedures mentioned above, you will observe that they share the same denominators. Lucky you, this means you can avoid the initial step. Now, all you have to do is add the numerators and allow it to be the same denominator as before.
2/4 + 6/4 = 8/4
Now, let’s try to simplify the fraction. We can notice that this is an improper fraction, as the numerator is greater than the denominator. This might indicate that you could simplify the fraction, but this is not necessarily the case 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 two.
As long as you go by these procedures when dividing two or more fractions, you’ll be a expert at adding fractions in matter of days.
Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators
The procedure will require an supplementary step when you add or subtract fractions with distinct denominators. To do this function with two or more fractions, they must have the same denominator.
The Steps to Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators
As we have said before this, to add unlike fractions, you must follow all three procedures stated above to change 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 adding the following fractions:
1/6+2/3+6/4
As shown, the denominators are different, and the least common multiple is 12. Hence, 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
Once all the fractions have a common denominator, we will move ahead to total the numerators:
2/12 + 8/12 + 18/12 = 28/12
We simplify the fraction by splitting the numerator and denominator by 4, coming to the final answer of 7/3.
Adding Mixed Numbers
We have mentioned 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 sums with mixed numbers, you must start by changing 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 retain the denominator.
Now, you move forward by summing 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.
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 described 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 summing the numerators with the exact 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 conclusive result.
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