You have to have like forms to add them or subtract one from the other if the answer is to be a single form quantity. You cannot subtract 2 Oranges from a dozen apples. You first would have to convert the apples to mush, then subtract the equivalent of 2 oranges worth of mush, and then see how much mush you have left. If you added 2 oranges to a dozen apples, you would first convert both to a common form, mush, then add the apple mush and the orange mush to see how much fruit mush you have. Similarly, with fractions, you have to convert them to a common form, referred to as their common denominator, then you can add or subtract to find the result in their common form. If you do not convert the fractions to a common form, or denominator, the resulting answer will look like the original question and not be an answer at all.
Chat with our AI personalities
You can only add like to like. There is no mechanism for adding different types of fraction.
if the signs are the same you must add its opposite.
Well, honey, any two fractions with a denominator of 8 will do the trick. How about 1/8 and 3/8? Or maybe you prefer 5/8 and 7/8? As long as that pesky denominator is 8, you're good to go.
14 = 2*7 so the denominator must be 3*7 = 21 Therefore the required fraction is 14/21
No. Each mixed number is made of a whole number and a fraction. When you add them, you have the sum of two whole numbers and two fractions. Since each whole number must be at least ' 1 ', the sum of two whole numbers must be at least ' 2 ', and the two fractions will always make it more than ' 2 '.