Adding Fractions: (Some "Elementary" Stuff First!)

Adding Fractions
(Some “Elementary” Stuff First!)
What fraction of the faces are green?

3
8
END
1 3/6/01 © 2001 Steve Hall (2 Tim 2:15) Email: steve@aboundingjoy.com
And what fraction of the
faces are purple?
4
8
END
And what do you get when
you add the fraction of
green faces to the fraction
of purple faces?
3 4 7
 
8 8 8
END
So to add fractions with the
same denominator, you
just...
ADD the NUMERATORS!
3 4 7
 
8 8 8 END
But suppose you had noticed
that HALF of the faces are
purple...
3 1
 ?
8 2
END
3 1
 ?
8 2
Well, you already know the
answer is 7/8.
But how do you make it work
mathematically?
END
The answer is that before you
can add fractions you have to
have...
Common Denominators!
And to keep it simple, we like to
find the smallest common
denominator available, or the...
Least Common Denominator!
(LCD)
END
The LCD is the smallest number
that both denominators will
divide into without a remainder.
So, for our factions:
3 1
 ? The LCD is 8!
8 2
And, since 1/2 = 4/8, we have
3 4 7
 
8 3/6/01 © 2001 Steve Hall (2 Tim 2:15)
8 8 8
Email: steve@aboundingjoy.com
END
Remember: To change a
fraction to another fraction with
a different denominator:
You must multiply both the

numerator and the denominator
by the same number.
END
Ask yourself, “What did I
multiply the first denominator
by to get the new
denominator?”
Multiply the NUMERATOR by

THAT SAME NUMBER!!
END
Find the missing Numerator:
2 14 5 40
 
3 21 7 56
9 63 5 45
 
11 77 8 72
Now try adding a couple of
fractions...
END
1 3 8 15 23
     
5 8 40 40 40 40 40
5 7 15 14 29 11
      1
6 9 18 18 18 18 18 18
END
Adding Mixed Numbers
Adding Mixed Numbers
Add the “Whole number part”

and the “fraction part”
separately.
It’s usually easier to “Stack”

them.
END
Add the fraction part as usual,
including finding the LCD.
After you add the fraction parts,
you may have to “carry” a
whole number to the whole
number part.
Try a couple...
END
1 1 4
4 6 6  6
5 6 24 24
3 3 7 9
3 7  7
5 8 24 24
4 13
7 13
5 24
END
5 25
5 5  5
6 30 30
14 28
4 4 4
15 30 30
53 23
9  10
30 30
END
Subtracting Fractions and Mixed Numbers
Subtracting Fractions and

Mixed Numbers
Subtracting simple fractions is
much like adding them.
If necessary, find the LCD.
Then Subtract the Numerators.
Please take time to try before
you click through!
END
7 3 4 1
  
8 8 8 2
8 2 8 6 2
   
9 3 9 9 9
7 1 35 4 31
   
8 10 40 40 40
END
To subtract mixed numbers...
Subtract the whole number part
and the fraction part separately.
You may have to find the LCD
and change the fraction parts.
If the numerator of the TOP
fraction is too small, Borrow
from the whole number.
END
Borrowing “1” is the same as
borrowing 2/2 or 3/3 or 4/4 or 5/5
or 10/10 or 14/14, etc.
So you can tell what to add to

the fraction part by looking at
the DENOMINATOR!
END
1 4 You must borrow
4 3
3 3 1 from the 4. So
2 2 you add 3/3 to the
2 2 1/3
3 3
2
1
3
END
1 5 45
14  14  13
8 40 40
3 24
 11  11 24  11
5 40 40
You must borrow 21
1 (which is 40/40) 2
40
from the 14 and
add it to the 5/40.
END
Multiplying and Dividing Fractions
Multiplying and Dividing

Fractions and Mixed Numbers
Do you need a common

denominator?
No!
That’s for addition and
subtraction!
END
Multiplying Fractions
You MAY simply multiply the
numerators to get the new
numerator...
And multiply the

denominators to get the new
denominator.
END
For example:
5 4 20
 
8 15 120
Reducing:
20 1

120 6
END
Sometimes it will make the
problem much easier if you...
CANCEL First.
(Note: “Canceling” is NOT
“Cross Multiplying!”
“Cross Multiplication” is used
for solving proportions!)
END
Going back to that last problem:
5 4 You may cancel a
  numerator with a
8 15 denominator.
5 and 15 are both 4 and 8 are both
divisible by 5. divisible by 4.
1 1
5 4 5 4 1
   
8 15 8 2 15 3 6
END
To Multiply Mixed Numbers:
First, change the mixed

numbers to improper
________ fractions.
multiply the
To do that, _______
denominator times the whole
number part, then _____
add the
numerator.
END
2 1 5 7 35 5
1 3    5
3 2 3 2 6 6
6 4
3 2 18 20 18 20 24
3 6     
5 3 5 3 51 31 1
 24
END
If you can multiply fractions and
mixed numbers...
Division is EASY!
Learn this well...
To Divide by a number means:

“To Multiply by the reciprocal of
the number.”
END
When you MULTIPLY a number
by its RECIPROCAL (or
“MULTIPLICATIVE INVERSE”)
the product is always...
ONE!
END
Number Reciprocal Product
1  3 1 3 1 3
3 1 3 1
2 5  21 2 5 1
5 2 2 5 2
4 4 1 4 1 1
1 4 1 4
5 1  36 7 36  7  1
7 7 36 7 36
END
To Divide by a number means:
“To Multiply by the reciprocal of
the number.”
So to divide by 2/3 is to multiply
by
3/2
END
5 1 5 4 20 2 1
    3 3
6 4 6 1 6 6 3
4 1 18 15 18 14
2 1    
7 14 7 14 7 15
6 2
18 14 12 2
   2
71 155 5 5
END

Adding Fractions: (Some "Elementary" Stuff First!)

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Adding Fractions: (Some "Elementary" Stuff First!)

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Adding Fractions

(Some “Elementary” Stuff First!)

What fraction of the faces are green?

ADD the NUMERATORS!

You must multiply both the

Multiply the NUMERATOR by

Adding Mixed Numbers

Add the “Whole number part”

It’s usually easier to “Stack”

Subtracting Fractions and

So you can tell what to add to

Multiplying and Dividing

Do you need a common

And multiply the

First, change the mixed

Learn this well...

To Divide by a number means:

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