Adding & Subtracting Fractions

A fraction represents a part of a whole. It consists of a numerator (top number) and a denominator (bottom number). For example, 1/2 means one part out of two equal parts.

Adding fractions means combining two or more fractions to find a total. To add fractions, they must have the same denominator (the bottom number). If they don't, you need to find a common denominator first.

A common denominator is a number that is a multiple of the denominators of two or more fractions. It allows you to add or subtract fractions easily.

The least common multiple (LCM) of 4 and 6 is 12. So, the common denominator for 1/4 and 1/6 is 12.

The first step is to find a common denominator for the fractions.

To convert 1/4 to a fraction with a denominator of 12, multiply both the numerator and denominator by 3. So, 1/4 = 3/12.

1. Find a common denominator (12). 2. Convert fractions: 1/4 = 3/12 and 1/6 = 2/12. 3. Add the numerators: 3 + 2 = 5. 4. Write the result: 5/12.

Subtracting fractions means taking one fraction away from another. Like addition, the fractions must have the same denominator to subtract them directly.

Since the denominators are the same, subtract the numerators: 5 - 3 = 2. The result is 2/4, which simplifies to 1/2.

An improper fraction is a fraction where the numerator is greater than or equal to the denominator, such as 5/4.