How to Add Fractions: Examples and Steps

Adding fractions is a usual math problem that students study in school. It can look intimidating initially, but it becomes simple with a shred of practice.

This blog article will guide the steps of adding two or more fractions and adding mixed fractions. We will then provide examples to demonstrate how this is done. Adding fractions is crucial for a lot of subjects as you progress in mathematics and science, so make sure to learn these skills early!

The Process of Adding Fractions

Adding fractions is a skill that many kids have difficulty with. However, it is a moderately easy process once you understand the fundamental principles. There are three major steps to adding fractions: finding a common denominator, adding the numerators, and simplifying the results. Let’s closely study each of these steps, and then we’ll look into some examples.

Step 1: Look for a Common Denominator

With these helpful points, you’ll be adding fractions like a pro in a flash! 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 same denominator, you can skip this step. If not, to find 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 say we wish to add the fractions 1/3 and 1/6. The lowest 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 quick 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 have the common denominator, the immediate step is to turn each fraction so that it has that denominator.

To convert these into an equivalent fraction with the exact denominator, you will multiply both the denominator and numerator by the same number required to attain 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 would stay the same.

Considering that 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: Simplifying the Answers

The final step is to simplify the fraction. Consequently, it means we need to lower the fraction to its minimum terms. To obtain 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 concluding result of 1/2.

You follow the same steps 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 using the process shown above, you will observe that they share the same denominators. Lucky you, this means you can avoid the initial step. At the moment, all you have to do is sum of the numerators and let it be 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 higher than the denominator. This could indicate that you can simplify the fraction, but this is not possible when we deal 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 final result of 2 by dividing the numerator and denominator by 2.

As long as you go by these steps when dividing two or more fractions, you’ll be a professional at adding fractions in a matter of time.

Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators

The procedure will need an additional step when you add or subtract fractions with distinct denominators. To do these operations with two or more fractions, they must have the same 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 steps mentioned above 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 dissimilar, and the lowest common multiple is 12. Therefore, we multiply each 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 dividing the numerator and denominator by 4, coming to the ultimate answer of 7/3.

Adding Mixed Numbers

We have discussed like and unlike fractions, but now we will touch upon mixed fractions. These are fractions accompanied by whole numbers.

The Steps to Adding Mixed Numbers

To figure out addition sums with mixed numbers, you must start 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

Write down your answer 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 out 1 3/4 + 5/4.

Foremost, let’s transform 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 be left with this result:

7/4 + 5/4

By summing the numerators with the same denominator, we will have a conclusive answer of 12/4. We simplify the fraction by dividing both the numerator and denominator by 4, ensuing in 3 as a conclusive result.

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