Student

Learningentre
C Rules for fractions
ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION
To add or subtract fractions they must have the same denominator (the bottom value).

Addition and Subtraction with the same denominators

If the denominators are already the same then it is just a matter of either adding or subtracting the numerators (the top
value).
3 2 3+2 5
𝐴𝐴 𝐶𝐶 𝐴𝐴+𝐶𝐶 Example +4= =4
Addition
𝐵𝐵
+ 𝐵𝐵
= 𝐵𝐵
4 4

𝐴𝐴 𝐶𝐶 𝐴𝐴−𝐶𝐶 3 2 3−2 1
Subtraction
𝐵𝐵
−
𝐵𝐵
=
𝐵𝐵
Example
4
−4= 4
=4

Addition and Subtraction with different denominators

If the denominators are different then a common denominator needs to be found. This is most easily done by creating a
common denominator that is the product of the two differing denominators. To achieve this multiply the denominator and
the numerator of each fraction by the opposite denominator. This is actually the same as multiplying 1 and so we aren’t
really changing anything.

𝐴𝐴 𝐶𝐶 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴+𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 3 2 3(3) 2(5) 9+10 19

Addition + = + = Example + = + = =
𝐵𝐵 𝐷𝐷 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 5 3 5(3) 3(5) 15 15

𝐴𝐴 𝐶𝐶 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴−𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 2 3 2 5 3 3 10−9 1

Subtraction − = − = Example − = − = =
𝐵𝐵 𝐷𝐷 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 3 5 3 5 5 3 15 15

MULTIPLICATION

To multiply fractions simply multiply the nominators 𝐴𝐴 𝐶𝐶 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 4 2 8 4

and multiply the denominators: 𝐵𝐵
×
𝐷𝐷
=
𝐵𝐵𝐷𝐷
Example:
7
× 6 = 42 = 21
a

DIVISION

To divide one fraction by another we must flip the 𝐴𝐴 𝐶𝐶 𝐴𝐴 𝐷𝐷 𝐴𝐴𝐷𝐷 2 4 2 7 14 7

second fraction and then multiply with the first: 𝐵𝐵
÷
𝐷𝐷
=
𝐵𝐵
×
𝐶𝐶
=
𝐵𝐵𝐶𝐶
Example:
3
÷ 7 = 3 × 4 = 12 = 6

PRACTICE

2 4 3 5
1) + = 2) × =
7 3 4 6

7 2 7 3
3) ÷ = 4) − =
12 3 12 8

Check your answers on the back.

Rules of Fractions 5/2013 @ SLC 1 of 2
 Student Rules for fractions
Learningentre
C
# Explanation Workings Answer

Before you can add or subtract, the fractions should have the 2 4 2 3 4 7 34
1.
7
+3= 7(3)
+ 3(7)
=
same bottom number – a Common Denominator. 21

Multiply the bottom numbers and multiply the top numbers. 3 5 3×5 15 5
2.
4
× 6
= 4×6 = 24 =
Then simplify the fraction by cancelling by 3 8

Turn the second fraction upside down and multiply. 21 and 24 7 2 7 3 7×3 21
3.
12
÷ 3
= 12
× 2
= 12×2
=
have a common factor of 3, so divide top and bottom by 3. 24

7 3 14 9
Before you can add or subtract, the fractions should have the
12
− 8
= 24
− 24
5
4. =
same bottom number – a Common Denominator. 24

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Rules of Fractions 5/2013 @ SLC 2 of 2