Operations with

Fractions
Back to Basics
VOCABULARY
• Fraction- a number that describes part of
a whole or part of a set.
• Numerator- top number of a fraction that
tells how many parts of the whole or set
you have.
• Denominator - bottom number of a
fraction that tells how many parts there are
in the whole or set.
VOCABULARY
• Proper fraction - little number on
top(numerator); big number on
bottom(denominator)
• Improper fraction – a fraction with a
value greater than or equal to 1.
• Mixed number - a whole number and a
fraction together
 Basic Operations with Fractions
1. Adding and subtracting fractions: 2 1 7 1
Ex 1a: 3  4 Ex 1b: 
• Get a common denominator 8 2
7 4
• Add or subtract the numerators  
8 3  
12 12 8 8
• Keep the denominator the same 3
11 

12 8

2. Multiplying fractions:  3  2   3  1 
Ex 2a:    Ex 2b:   
• Multiply across, then reduce  8  3   5  6 
OR 6 1  3  1 
   
• Reduce early, then multiply across 24  5  6 2
1 1

4 10

3. Dividing fractions: 9 3

• Rewrite as multiplication problem Ex 3: 16 4
• K eep the first fraction 9 4
  
• F lip the second fraction (reciprocal) 16  3 
• C hange divide to multiply 
36 3

48 4
 Practice Problems

2 2 5 3 1
1)  2)  
3 5 6 4 2

10 9 6
10 6  
 12 12 12
15 15

19 6
16 1 
1 12 12
15 15

25
2 1
12 12
 Practice Problems

5 3 11 2 1
3)  4)  
6 5 12 3 4

11 8 3
25 18  
 12 12 12
30 30
3 3
7 
12 12
30
6 1

12 2
 Practice Problems

 5  3   4  2  11
5)    6)    
 5  3  15
 9  8 

 5  31  8 11

   15 15

 93  8  19 4
1
5 15 15

24
 Practice Problems
3
3 5
7) 7 3
 8)
4
 
8 4 5
6
4 6
1 36
3
74
   
2 83 2
45
7 1
1
6 6 9
10