IWCF UK Branch Distance Learning Programme DRILLING CALCULATIONS

Example Adding fractions 2

Add

1 1
3 1
3 2

Add the whole numbers first

3+1 =
4
Change the fractions to a common denominator;
1 2
1 3
3 6
2 6
2 3

6 6

5
6

So the answer is 4

5
6

Try some yourself . . . Exercise 1.22

1.

3 1

4 2

6.

1
3
5 2
2
4

2.

1 1

3 2

7.

3
1
3 4
4
8

3.

3 1

4 3

8.

3
1
5 4
8
4

4.

5 2

6 3

9.

1
1
1 2
5
4

5.

7 2

8 3

10.

3
1
6 2
5
10

Part 1 Section 4

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IWCF UK Branch Distance Learning Programme DRILLING CALCULATIONS

Example Subtracting fractions

Subtract

2 1

3 2

The common denominator could be 6 because

3 will divide into 6
2 will divide into 6
So convert both fractions to sixths
2 2u 2 4
3 3u 2 6

1
2

1u 3
2u3

3
6

Then subtract
4 3 1

6 6 6
Example Subtracting mixed numbers
Subtract

3 1
2 1
4 3

The easiest way to subtract mixed numbers is to convert to improper fractions.

3 11
1 4
2
1
4 4
3 3
We now have
11 4

4 3
The lowest common denominator is 12 because 3 x 4 = 12
11 11u 3 33
4 4 u 4 16
4 4 u 3 12
3 3 u 4 12
We now have
33 16

12 12

17
12

17
must be converted to a mixed number
12

Part 1 Section 4

5
1
12

59 of 211