Addition and multiplication of

fractions
Addition
Remember: When adding (or subtracting) fractions, you must find the lowest common denominator (LCD).

Evaluate

1.

Find multiples of the first denominator.

Multiples of 3 = 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, ....

2.

Find multiples of the second denominator.

Multiples of 4 = 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, .....

3.

Find the lowest common multiple of these

denominators (LCD).

LCD = 12

4.

Using the LCD as the denominator, find

equivalent fractions for both the original
fractions.

5.

6.

2
3
+
.
3
4

2
8
=
3
12
3
9
=
4
12

Do the operation.

Write your answer as a mixed number if

appropriate.

2
3
+
3
4
=

8
9
+
12
12

17
12

=1

5
12

Evaluate each of the following.

2 1
, LCD is
7 3
2
3

(c)
, LCD is
11 10
3 2
, LCD is
(e)
5 3
7
1
, LCD is
(g)
11 2

(a)

7 1
, LCD is
8 5
7 3
, LCD is
(d)
8 4
11 3
, LCD is
(f)
15 5
7
1
, LCD is
(h)
11 2

(b)

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Multiplication
When multiplying fractions, you need to follow this rule:
a c ac

b d bd

Evaluate:
(a)

(b)

3 2
32
=
5 7
57
6
=
35

(a)

3 2

5 7

(b)

5 4

8 7

5 4
5 4
=

8 7
87
20
5
=
=
[expressed in simplest
56
14
terms]
5 1
5
1
5
4
or:
=
=

8
7
2

7
14
2

Evaluate each of the following examples. (Cancel if you can.)

(a)

2 3
...... ......

=
7 11
...... ......
=

(c)

(e)

=
(i)

(d)

(f)

......
......

7 6 ...... ......
=
8 5 ...... ......
......
......
=
......
......

5
7

11 10

=
(h)

......
......

7 4 10
...... ...... ......

=
8 5 21
...... ...... ......

......
......

......
......

7
3
...... ......

=
11 4
...... ......

5 3 ...... ......
=
9 7 ...... ......
=

......
......

8 3
...... ......
=
9 4
...... ......
=

(g)

......
......

6
9
...... ......

=
7 13
...... ......
=

(b)

(j)

......
......

7
9

15 28
=

...... ......
...... ......

...... ......
...... ......

......
......

3 2 10
...... ...... ......

=
5 7 15
...... ...... ......
=

......
......

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Addition and multiplication of

fractions
Answers
1
2

13
(b)
21
6
(a)
(b)
77

(a)

35

27
(c)
40
5
(c)
21

53
1
4
2
3
3
(d)
(e) 1
(f)
(g) 1
(h)
110
8
15
15
22
22
54
21
2
7
21
3
1
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
91
20
3
22
44
20
3

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