How to Add Fractions: Examples and Steps

Adding fractions is a common math problem that students learn in school. It can look scary initially, but it becomes easy with a bit of practice.

This blog post will walk you through the procedure of adding two or more fractions and adding mixed fractions. We will then give examples to see how it is done. Adding fractions is essential for a lot of subjects as you progress in science and math, so make sure to adopt these skills initially!

The Process of Adding Fractions

Adding fractions is a skill that a lot of children have a problem with. However, it is a relatively easy process once you understand the essential principles. There are three major steps to adding fractions: determining a common denominator, adding the numerators, and streamlining the answer. Let’s take a closer look at every one of these steps, and then we’ll look into some examples.

Step 1: Determining a Common Denominator

With these useful tips, you’ll be adding fractions like a pro in no time! The initial step is to determine a common denominator for the two fractions you are adding. The least common denominator is the lowest number that both fractions will divide equally.

If the fractions you wish to sum share the same denominator, you can avoid this step. If not, to look for the common denominator, you can determine the amount of the factors of each number as far as you look for a common one.

For example, let’s say we want to add the fractions 1/3 and 1/6. The lowest common denominator for these two fractions is six for the reason that both denominators will divide evenly into that number.

Here’s a good tip: if you are not sure regarding this process, you can multiply both denominators, and you will [[also|subsequently80] get a common denominator, which would be 18.

Step Two: Adding the Numerators

Once you have the common denominator, the following step is to turn each fraction so that it has that denominator.

To convert these into an equivalent fraction with the same denominator, you will multiply both the denominator and numerator by the same number necessary to attain the common denominator.

Following the prior example, 6 will become the common denominator. To change the numerators, we will multiply 1/3 by 2 to get 2/6, while 1/6 would stay the same.

Now that both the fractions share common denominators, we can add the numerators simultaneously to get 3/6, a proper fraction that we will proceed to simplify.

Step Three: Simplifying the Results

The final step is to simplify the fraction. Consequently, it means we need to diminish the fraction to its lowest terms. To achieve this, we look for the most common factor of the numerator and denominator and divide them by it. In our example, the greatest common factor of 3 and 6 is 3. When we divide both numbers by 3, we get the ultimate result of 1/2.

You follow the exact process to add and subtract fractions.

Examples of How to Add Fractions

Now, let’s move forward to add these two fractions:

2/4 + 6/4

By utilizing the procedures mentioned above, you will observe that they share equivalent denominators. Lucky for you, this means you can avoid the first step. At the moment, all you have to do is add the numerators and allow it to be the same denominator as before.

2/4 + 6/4 = 8/4

Now, let’s try to simplify the fraction. We can notice that this is an improper fraction, as the numerator is higher than the denominator. This could suggest that you can simplify the fraction, but this is not feasible when we work with proper and improper fractions.

In this instance, the numerator and denominator can be divided by 4, its most common denominator. You will get a final answer of 2 by dividing the numerator and denominator by 2.

As long as you go by these steps when dividing two or more fractions, you’ll be a professional at adding fractions in no time.

Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators

This process will require an additional step when you add or subtract fractions with different denominators. To do this function with two or more fractions, they must have the same denominator.

The Steps to Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators

As we stated above, to add unlike fractions, you must follow all three procedures stated prior to transform these unlike denominators into equivalent fractions

Examples of How to Add Fractions with Unlike Denominators

Here, we will put more emphasis on another example by summing up the following fractions:

1/6+2/3+6/4

As shown, the denominators are dissimilar, and the least common multiple is 12. Hence, we multiply each fraction by a value to achieve the denominator of 12.

1/6 * 2 = 2/12

2/3 * 4 = 8/12

6/4 * 3 = 18/12

Now that all the fractions have a common denominator, we will move ahead to add the numerators:

2/12 + 8/12 + 18/12 = 28/12

We simplify the fraction by dividing the numerator and denominator by 4, coming to the ultimate result of 7/3.

Adding Mixed Numbers

We have discussed like and unlike fractions, but presently we will go through mixed fractions. These are fractions followed by whole numbers.

The Steps to Adding Mixed Numbers

To work out addition sums with mixed numbers, you must start by converting the mixed number into a fraction. Here are the steps and keep reading for an example.

Step 1

Multiply the whole number by the numerator

Step 2

Add that number to the numerator.

Step 3

Write down your answer as a numerator and retain the denominator.

Now, you proceed by adding these unlike fractions as you usually would.

Examples of How to Add Mixed Numbers

As an example, we will work out 1 3/4 + 5/4.

Foremost, let’s transform the mixed number into a fraction. You are required to multiply the whole number by the denominator, which is 4. 1 = 4/4

Thereafter, add the whole number described as a fraction to the other fraction in the mixed number.

4/4 + 3/4 = 7/4

You will conclude with this operation:

7/4 + 5/4

By summing the numerators with the exact denominator, we will have a ultimate result of 12/4. We simplify the fraction by dividing both the numerator and denominator by 4, resulting in 3 as a final result.

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