How do you add and simplify fractions?

Answer 1

Here is an example

1 1/2 + 2 2/3

These two fractionare mixed numbers.

Here are the steps to take. ;-

#1 ; convert to improper (top heavy) fractions.

#2 ; bring to a common denominstor, by multiplying the two bottom numbers together.

#3 ; bring to equivlanet numerators , by cross multiplying the top numbers.

#4; add the numerators(top numbers)

#5 ; place over the denominator

#6 ; reduce to a mixed number.

Taking the above fractions and following these steps.

#1 ; 1 1/2 + 2 2/3 = 3/2 + 8/3

#2 ; 2 x 3 = 6 (denominator)

#3 ; 3x3 = 9 & 2 x 8 = 16 ( The Numerators)

#4 ; 9 + 16 = 25

#5 ; 25/6 (Divide '6' into '25'. It goes '4' times and a remainder of '1'

#6 ; 4 1/6 . The Answer!!!!!

Hope that helps!!!!

NB Multiplication/division of fractions is actually much simpler.

NB For subtraction it is exactly the same as addition, except at step #4 , your subtract the numerators. For the above given fractions, the subtractions answer is '-1 1/6'. Try it for yourself.

Answer 2

1.Adding If they have like denominators, just add the numerator and put that on top of the denominator. If the denominators not same, you need like denominators. So, you have to find the least common multiple of the denominator. You can list them and find the lowest multiple, or use this shortcut. It might lead to extra steps though. First you multiply the denominators. Then multiply the numerator by that number. Then add that together. (It's easy because you just add the numerator.) 2. simplifying. If the #'s are both even, they can be divided by two. If they aren't, List the factors of the numerator and the denominator. Find the least common factor.(LCM).Then divide the numerator and the denominator by that

#.Keep going to get a fraction simplified all the way. Hope this helped!=D