How to Add Fractions: Steps and Examples

Adding fractions is a regular math application that students learn in school. It can seem scary at first, but it can be simple with a tiny bit of practice.

This blog article will take you through the steps of adding two or more fractions and adding mixed fractions. We will also give examples to see how it is done. Adding fractions is crucial for a lot of subjects as you progress in science and math, so make sure to learn these skills initially!

The Procedures for Adding Fractions

Adding fractions is an ability that many students have a problem with. Despite that, it is a somewhat hassle-free process once you grasp the fundamental principles. There are three major steps to adding fractions: looking for a common denominator, adding the numerators, and simplifying the answer. Let’s take a closer look at every one 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 no time! The first step is to look for a common denominator for the two fractions you are adding. The least common denominator is the minimum number that both fractions will split uniformly.

If the fractions you wish to sum share the equal denominator, you can avoid this step. If not, to find the common denominator, you can list out the factors of each number as far as you determine a common one.

For example, let’s say 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 divide equally into that number.

Here’s a quick tip: if you are unsure regarding 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 the same denominator, you will multiply both the denominator and numerator by the exact number needed to attain the common denominator.

Following the prior example, 6 will become the common denominator. To change the numerators, we will multiply 1/3 by 2 to achieve 2/6, while 1/6 will remain the same.

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

Step Three: Simplifying the Results

The last step is to simplify the fraction. As a result, it means we are required to diminish the fraction to its minimum terms. To achieve this, we search for 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 ultimate answer of 1/2.

You go by the same steps 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 procedures mentioned above, you will observe that they share identical denominators. Lucky you, this means you can skip the initial 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 try to simplify the fraction. We can see that this is an improper fraction, as the numerator is greater than the denominator. This could suggest that you could simplify the fraction, but this is not necessarily the case 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 answer of 2 by dividing the numerator and denominator by two.

As long as you go by these steps when dividing two or more fractions, you’ll be a pro 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 dissimilar 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 obey all three steps mentioned prior to change these unlike denominators into equivalent fractions

Examples of How to Add Fractions with Unlike Denominators

Here, we will focus on another example by adding the following fractions:

1/6+2/3+6/4

As shown, the denominators are different, and the lowest common multiple is 12. Thus, we multiply each 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, coming to the final result 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 solve addition exercises with mixed numbers, you must initiate 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 answer as a numerator and retain the denominator.

Now, you proceed by adding these unlike fractions as you usually would.

Examples of How to Add Mixed Numbers

As an example, we will work out 1 3/4 + 5/4.

Foremost, let’s change 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 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 adding the numerators with the similar denominator, we will have a conclusive 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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