Adding and Subtracting Fractions

Front

What is a fraction?

Back

A fraction represents a part of a whole and consists of a numerator (top number) and a denominator (bottom number).

Front

What does it mean to add fractions?

Back

Adding fractions means combining the parts represented by the fractions to find a total.

Front

What does it mean to subtract fractions?

Back

Subtracting fractions means finding the difference between the parts represented by the fractions.

Front

How do you add fractions with the same denominator?

Back

Add the numerators and keep the same denominator. For example, 1/4 + 2/4 = (1+2)/4 = 3/4.

Front

How do you add fractions with different denominators?

Back

Find a common denominator, convert the fractions, then add the numerators. For example, 1/2 + 1/3 = 3/6 + 2/6 = 5/6.

Front

How do you subtract fractions with the same denominator?

Back

Subtract the numerators and keep the same denominator. For example, 3/4 - 1/4 = (3-1)/4 = 2/4.

Front

How do you subtract fractions with different denominators?

Back

Find a common denominator, convert the fractions, then subtract the numerators. For example, 3/4 - 1/2 = 3/4 - 2/4 = 1/4.

Front

What is a mixed number?

Back

A mixed number is a whole number combined with a fraction, such as 2 1/2.

Front

How do you convert an improper fraction to a mixed number?

Back

Divide the numerator by the denominator. The quotient is the whole number, and the remainder is the new numerator over the original denominator.

Front

What is the first step in adding mixed numbers?

Back

Convert the mixed numbers to improper fractions before adding.