How to Add Fractions

How to Add Fractions?

Alright, let’s add some fractions using these steps. I have divided the examples into categories to make things easier to follow.

Adding Fractions with the Same Denominator

When adding fractions with the same denominator, we don’t need to worry about making them equal (the first step mentioned above). That makes it really easy to add them.

Solution

Step 1.  The denominators are already the same ($\hspace{0.2em} 9 \hspace{0.2em}$), so we can move to step 2.

Step 2.  Add the numerators and copy the denominator.

Step 3.  The fraction obtained can’t be simplified further (no common factors). So, that’s our answer.

Here’s the solution in pictures.

Solution

This time, the fraction obtained was not in its lowest terms. So, in the last step, we simplified it by dividing the top and bottom numbers by their greatest common factor, $\hspace{0.2em} 5 \hspace{0.2em}$.

Adding Fractions with Different Denominators

Very often, the fractions we want to add do not have the same bottom number. So, let’s see how to add fractions with different bottom numbers.

Solution

Step 1.  When the fractions have different denominators, we need to make the denominators equal before we can proceed.

To do so, we take a common multiple of the denominators (preferably the Least Common Multiple or LCM). The LCM of $\hspace{0.2em} 2 \hspace{0.2em}$ and $\hspace{0.2em} 3 \hspace{0.2em}$ is $\hspace{0.2em} 6 \hspace{0.2em}$.

Now, if we multiply the first denominator by $\hspace{0.2em} 3 \hspace{0.2em}$ and the other by $\hspace{0.2em} 3 \hspace{0.2em}$, they will both become equal to $\hspace{0.2em} 6 \hspace{0.2em}$.

So,

Step 2.  Once the denominators are equal, we add the numerators and copy the denominator.

Step 3.  The fraction is already in its lowest terms. So, that’s our answer.

Why Make the Denominators Equal?

Denominators in a fraction tell us how many parts the whole has been divided into.

When fractions have different bottom numbers, they are referring to parts that are unequal in size. See how each slice in the first pizza is bigger than that in the other?

By making the denominators equal, we make the slices equal (without changing the quantities of pizza), so we can go ahead and add them.

Solution

Again, we must make the bottom numbers equal before we can add the top numbers.

The LCM of $\hspace{0.2em} 15 \hspace{0.2em}$ and $\hspace{0.2em} 6 \hspace{0.2em}$ is $\hspace{0.2em} 30 \hspace{0.2em}$. So we multiply the top and bottom numbers of the first fraction by $\hspace{0.2em} 2 \hspace{0.2em}$, and those of the second by $\hspace{0.2em} 5 \hspace{0.2em}$.

How to Add Fractions and Whole Numbers

So far, we have been adding fractions together. But what if we have fractions and whole numbers?

Well, one way is to write the whole number as a fraction (with one as the denominator) and then add the two fractions. But there’s also a much better way.

We’ll look at both methods in the next example.

Solution

Conventional Method

Here we start by writing $\hspace{0.2em} 2 \hspace{0.2em}$ as a fraction ($\hspace{0.2em} 2 \hspace{0.2em}$ over $\hspace{0.2em} 1 \hspace{0.2em}$) and then proceed as we did in the previous examples.

In the last step, I converted the improper (top-heavy) fraction into a mixed number. It wasn’t necessary but unless the question uses improper fractions, it’s preferred that you don’t leave improper fractions in your answers either. So, convert them into mixed numbers.

A Faster Alternative

Here’s how it would look in our present example.

That’s it. Unbelievably simple, right?

Solution

Let’s solve this one quickly using the smarter approach.

Done!

Before we move ahead, let’s look at one more example.

Solution

Here we have more than one whole number and fraction. So we will add the whole numbers and fractions separately and then put the results together (as a mixed number) to get the final sum, as discussed above.

How to Add Fractions and Mixed Numbers

When adding fractions and mixed numbers, again, you have two methods to choose from. But as you’ll see in the next example, one is faster and more efficient than the other.

Solution

Conventional Method

In this method, we convert the mixed numbers into improper fractions and then proceed to add two fractions.

Again, we convert the answer from a top-heavy fraction to a mixed number.

Okay, this is a fine method but let’s look at something better.

A Faster Alternative

Here’s how we can solve the present example using this method,

Solution

First, we separate the whole number parts and fractional parts contained in the mixed numbers and group similar items together.

Next, we add the two groups separately and then put the results together to get the final answer.

And with that, we come to the end of this tutorial. Until next time.