How to Add Fractions: Examples and Steps

Adding fractions is a common math problem that students study in school. It can appear daunting at first, but it can be simple with a shred of practice.

This blog post will walk you through the process of adding two or more fractions and adding mixed fractions. We will ,on top of that, provide examples to show how it is done. Adding fractions is necessary for a lot of subjects as you progress in mathematics and science, so make sure to adopt these skills early!

The Procedures for Adding Fractions

Adding fractions is an ability that numerous children struggle with. However, it is a relatively simple process once you understand the essential principles. There are three main steps to adding fractions: finding a common denominator, adding the numerators, and simplifying the results. Let’s take a closer look at each of these steps, and then we’ll look into some examples.

Step 1: Determining a Common Denominator

With these useful points, 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 smallest common denominator is the minimum number that both fractions will share equally.

If the fractions you want to sum share the identical denominator, you can skip this step. If not, to look for the common denominator, you can determine the amount of the factors of each number as far as you find a common one.

For example, let’s assume 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 divide evenly into that number.

Here’s a quick tip: if you are uncertain 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

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 an identical denominator, you will multiply both the denominator and numerator by the same number required to get the common denominator.

Subsequently the last example, six will become the common denominator. To change the numerators, we will multiply 1/3 by 2 to get 2/6, while 1/6 will stay the same.

Since both the fractions share common denominators, we can add the numerators simultaneously to attain 3/6, a proper fraction that we will proceed to simplify.

Step Three: Simplifying the Answers

The final process is to simplify the fraction. As a result, it means we need to reduce the fraction to its minimum terms. To achieve this, we find 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 concluding result of 1/2.

You go by the same 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 utilizing the procedures mentioned above, you will see that they share equivalent denominators. You are lucky, this means you can avoid the first stage. 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 notice that this is an improper fraction, as the numerator is larger than the denominator. This could indicate that you could simplify the fraction, but this is not possible when we deal 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 two.

As long as you go by these procedures when dividing two or more fractions, you’ll be a professional 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 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 have said prior to this, to add unlike fractions, you must obey all three procedures stated prior to convert these unlike denominators into equivalent fractions

Examples of How to Add Fractions with Unlike Denominators

Here, we will put more emphasis on another example by adding the following fractions:

1/6+2/3+6/4

As shown, the denominators are distinct, and the smallest 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

Considering that all the fractions have a common denominator, we will go forward 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 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 solve addition sums with mixed numbers, you must start by converting 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

Take down your result as a numerator and keep the denominator.

Now, you go ahead by summing these unlike fractions as you generally 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 will need to multiply the whole number by the denominator, which is 4. 1 = 4/4

Next, add the whole number described as a fraction to the other fraction in the mixed number.

4/4 + 3/4 = 7/4

You will conclude with this result:

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 final answer.

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