How to Add Fractions: Steps and Examples

Adding fractions is a common math application that children learn in school. It can look intimidating initially, but it becomes easy with a bit of practice.

This blog post will walk you through the steps of adding two or more fractions and adding mixed fractions. We will ,on top of that, give examples to see how it is done. Adding fractions is crucial for a lot of subjects as you move ahead in math and science, so be sure to learn these skills initially!

The Procedures for Adding Fractions

Adding fractions is an ability that many children struggle with. Despite that, it is a somewhat simple process once you grasp the essential principles. There are three major steps to adding fractions: determining a common denominator, adding the numerators, and streamlining the answer. Let’s take a closer look at each of these steps, and then we’ll look into some examples.

Step 1: Look for a Common Denominator

With these helpful tips, you’ll be adding fractions like a professional in an instant! The first step is to look for a common denominator for the two fractions you are adding. The least common denominator is the lowest number that both fractions will share evenly.

If the fractions you wish to sum share the same denominator, you can skip this step. If not, to find the common denominator, you can determine the number of the factors of respective number as far as you determine a common one.

For example, let’s assume we wish 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 divide equally 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 should be 18.

Step Two: Adding the Numerators

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

Subsequently the previous example, 6 will become the common denominator. To convert the numerators, we will multiply 1/3 by 2 to attain 2/6, while 1/6 would remain the same.

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

Step Three: Streamlining the Answers

The final process is to simplify the fraction. As a result, it means we need to diminish the fraction to its lowest terms. To achieve 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 follow the same procedure 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 applying the steps above, you will notice that they share identical denominators. Lucky you, 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 it was.

2/4 + 6/4 = 8/4

Now, let’s try to simplify the fraction. We can perceive that this is an improper fraction, as the numerator is larger than the denominator. This may suggest that you can 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 final 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 pro at adding fractions in a matter of time.

Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators

This process 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 exact denominator.

The Steps to Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators

As we stated 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 concentrate on another example by summing up the following fractions:

1/6+2/3+6/4

As demonstrated, the denominators are different, and the smallest common multiple is 12. Thus, we multiply every fraction by a number 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 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, finding a final result of 7/3.

Adding Mixed Numbers

We have discussed like and unlike fractions, but presently we will revise through mixed fractions. These are fractions followed by whole numbers.

The Steps to Adding Mixed Numbers

To work out addition problems with mixed numbers, you must start by turning 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 proceed by summing 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 will need 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 conclude with this result:

7/4 + 5/4

By adding the numerators with the exact 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 result.

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