Adding and Subtracting Simple

Fractions Without or With

Regrouping
GOAL 1
 Targets:

 Add simple fractions without or with regrouping.

 Subtract simple fractions without or with regrouping.
 Solve routine and non-routine problems involving addition and/or
subtraction of fractions using appropriate problem solving
strategies and tools.
 Create problems (with reasonable answers) involving addition
and/or subtraction of fractions.
 Get ready…
Say true if the statement is correct and false if it is not.

false
1. is equivalent to .
false
2. + =
3. and are equivalent. true
true
4. + =
5. - = false

6. - = false
 Let’s get started
1. You can apply a formula to add similar fractions with the same
denominator: add the numerators of the fractions and retain the
denominator.

Example 1: What is + ?

Philip’s answer: If I add 4 eights and 2 eights, I will

get 6 eights or . If I simplify the result, I will get .

+ = = =

8
Likewise, you can apply several strategies to get the difference of two or more
fractions. You can draw a mathematical model by using a number line or
fraction bars.

 You can apply the formula to subtract similar fractions with the same
denominator: subtract the numerators of the fractions and retain the
denominator.

Example 2: What is - ?

Ana’s answer: I will subtract 2 sixths from 5 sixths

to get the answer, which is 3 sixths or . If I simplify the result, I will
get .
- = = =
To add dissimilar or unlike fractions, you have to change them first to
similar fractions by looking for equivalent fractions.
Example, is equivalent to , , , , and so on. Multiplying the
numerator and denominator of by 2 yields .
= =
Likewise, multiplying the numerator and the denominator of by 3
yields .
= =
Example 3: Change and to similar fractions. Use their LCD.

PRIME FACTORIZATION LEAST COMMON DENOMINATOR

6=2x3 Now, change and to fractions having the

denominator 24:
8=2x2x2
Multiply now their common factor by the
remaining factors of 6 and 8 to get their LCD: = =

And

2 x 3 x 2 x 2 = 24 = =
 Butterfly Method
2 4
1 1 2+ 4 6 3
+ ¿ = 𝑜𝑟
4 2 8 8 4
8
 Example 3: Add and .

Get the least common multiple of 2 and 3 since they are

unlike fractions.

Multiples of 2: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, …

Multiples of 3: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, …
The COMMON MULTIPLES of 2 and 3 are 6, 12,
18, 24, …
Use the LCM to change the and to similar fraction.

= =
3 4
1 2
+
+ = or 1 2 3
6

3 +4 7 1
¿ = 𝑜𝑟 1
6 6 6
 Example 5: What is - ?

1. Least Common Denominator 8=2x2x2

6=2 x3
----------------------
2 x 2 x 2 x 3 = 24

2. Least Common Multiple

8 = 8, 16, 24, 32, 40 …
6 = 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 …

= = and = =

- = =
 Butterfly Method
42 40
7 5 42 − 40 2 1
− ¿ = 𝑜𝑟
8 6 48 48 24
48
 Example 6: A farmer gathered some fruits. Three-eights of the
fruits are mangoes, of the fruits are pineapples, and
the rest are pomelos. What part of the fruits are
pomelos?

LCD of 8 and 2 is 8. + = + = 1- =

1 3
2 8
?

4 3 1
= 8
8 8
Example 7: Mary is putting some books on the shelf. Five-
eighths ( of the books are about Science, are about
History, and the rest are about Geography. What part
of the book is about Geography?

+ = + =

1- =
Book of Geography