Slice a pizza, and you will have fractions:

1
/2
1
/4
3
/8
(One-Half) (One-Quarter) (Three-Eighths)

The top number tells how many slices you have
The bottom number tells how many slices the pizza was cut into.
Numerator / Denominator
We call the top number the Numerator, it is the number of parts you have.
We call the bottom number the Denominator, it is the number of parts the whole is divided into.
Numerator
Denominator
You just have to remember those names! (f you for!et just thin" #$own#%ominator&
Equivalent Fractions
'ome fractions may loo" different, but are really the same, for e(ample)
4
/8
*
2
/4
*
1
/2
(+our%,i!hths& Two%-uarters& (.ne%/alf&
= =
t is usually best to show an answer usin! the simplest fraction (
1
/2 in this case &. That is
called Simplifying, or Reducing the +raction
Adding Fractions
You can add fractions easily if the bottom number (the denominator& is the same)
1
/4
0
1
/4
*
2
/4
*
1
/2
(.ne%-uarter& (.ne%-uarter& (Two%-uarters& (.ne%/alf&
+ = =
1nother e(ample)
5
/8
0
1
/8
*
6
/8
*
3
/4
+ = =
Adding Fractions with Different Denominators
2ut what if the denominators (the bottom numbers& are not the same3 1s in this e(ample)
3
/8
0
1
/4
* 3
+ =
You must somehow ma"e the denominators the same.
n this case it is easy, because we "now that
1
/4 is the same as
2
/8 )
3
/8
0
2
/8
*
5
/8

+ =

Common Denominator
This is the easiest method I know to add or sutract fractions!
What is a Denominator?
The denominator is the bottom number in a
fraction.
It shows how many equal parts the item is
divided into

What is a Common Denominator?
"Common" Denominator #ust means that
the denominators in two $or more%
fractions are common, or the same.

Why is it Imortant?
&ddin' and Sutractin' (ractions
)efore you can add or sutract fractions, the fractions need to have
a common denominator $in other words the denominators must be the same%*
+akin' The Denominators the Same
If the denominators are not the same, you can either use the ,east Common
Denominator method to make them the same, or you can:
What Did We Do?
-* .e multiplied each fraction y the denominator of the other* ,et/s use letters
instead of numers to show it:
0* &nd ecause they now have the same denominator, we can add them:
In 1ne Step!
.e could do those two thin's in one step like this:
.hich you can use like this:
Example: What is
2
/3 +
4
/5 ?
4
+
5
*
467 0 865
*
9: 0 94
*
44
8 7 8 6 7 97 97