Operations with Fractions: Adding and Subtracting

To add or subtract fractions with the same denominator, add or subtract the numerators and write the sum or difference over the denominator.

EXAMPLE
1 Find each sum or difference.
a.

3 1 _ +_ 5 5 5 5

3+1 3 1 _ +_ =_ 5 4 _ -_ 9 9 9 9 4 =_ 5 5

The denominators are the same. Add the numerators Simplify.

b.

5 5-4 4 _ -_ =_ 1 =_ 9 9

The denominators are the same. Subtract the numerators. Simplify.

To write a fraction in simplest form, divide both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common factor (GCF).

EXAMPLE
2 Write each fraction in simplest form.
a.

4 _

16 44 4 _ = __ 16 16 4 1 =_ 4

b. Divide 4 and 16 by their GCF, 4. Simplify.

24 _ 24 12 24 _ = __ 36 36 12 2 =_ 3 36
Divide 24 and 36 by their GCF, 12. Simplify.

EXAMPLE
3 Find each sum or difference. Write in simplest form.
a.

1 7 _ -_ 16 16 16 16

6 7 1 _ -_ =_ 16 8 3 =_

The denominators are the same. Subtract the numerators. Simplify.

b.

5 7 _ +_ 8 8 8 8

5 7 12 _ +_ =_ 8 4 1 = 1_ or 1_ 8 2

The denominators are the same. Add the numerators. Rename _ as a mixed number in simplest form.
12 8

To add or subtract fractions with unlike denominators, first find the least common denominator (LCD). Rename each fraction with the LCD, and then add or subtract. Simplify if necessary.

EXAMPLE
4 Find each sum or difference. Write in simplest form.
a.

2 1 _ +_ 9 3 3

3 2 1 2 _ +_ =_ +_ 9 1 2 _ +_ 2 3 2 3 9 5 =_ 9 9

The LCD for 9 and 3 is 9. Rename _ as _.

1 3 3 9

Add the numerators.

b.

3 1 2 4 _ +_ =_ +_ 3 1 _ -_ 8 3 8 3

6 6 7 1 =_ or 1_ 6 6

The LCD for 2 and 3 is 6. Rename _ as _ and _ as _.

1 2 3 6 2 3 4 6

Simplify.

c.

24 24 1 _ = 24 7 2 d. 10 15 7 2 21 4 _ -_ =_ -_ 30 10 15 30 17 =_ 30

3 9 8 1 _ -_ =_ -_

The LCD for 8 and 3 is 24. Rename _ as _ and _ as _.

3 8 9 24 1 3 8 24

_ _

Simplify.

The LCD for 10 and 15 is 30. Rename _ as _ and _ as _.

7 10 21 30 2 15 4 30

Simplify.