Adding and subtracting fractions

$: Adding and subtracting fractions$
HAS NEVER BEEN AS S IMPLE AS THI S

Adding and Subtracting Fractions

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http://coolmathgameskids.net/free-online-fractions-tutorial/

Almost every one of us has encountered a situation where we

are required to add or subtract fractions. This in most cases

proves to be quite a challenge to many of us. But did you know

that mathematical sums are the most interesting once you grasp

the basic approach of any calculation? Well this is very true.

Adding and subtracting fractions can as well be the simplest and

most interesting task. If you have an upcoming aptitude test or

any test that will have any calculations associated with fractions

then do not worry since in this article you will be shown how to

do it.

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WHAT IS A “FRACTION”?

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First of all we need to understand what a fraction is.

It is simply a number divided by another number.

This implies that the number represents a fraction of the

whole.

A classical example of this can be 2/3. This means that 2 in

every 3 or third of a whole.

Calculations of fractions will be easier when you understand

the different aspects of a fraction and how they have been

represented.


…THE NUMERATOR AND THE DENOMINATOR.

THE NUMERATOR REFERS TO THE NUMBER ON TOP

WHEREAS THE DENOMINATOR I S THE NUMBER ON

THE BOTTOM.

THE DENOMINATOR REPRESENTS THE OVERALL S IZE OR

THE WHOLE. IT I S THEREFORE ADVISABLE THAT

BEFORE YOU MAKE ANY ADDITION OR SUBTRACTION,

THE DENOMINATORS ARE EQUAL OR SAME. ALL THE

BOTTOM NUMBERS SHOULD BE THE SAME. ADDING AND

SUBTRACTING FRACTIONS WILL ONLY BE S IMPLIFIED

ONCE THE ADDITION OR SUBTRACTION UNIT S IZES ARE

THE SAME.

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A fraction has two parts…


EXAMPLE

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An example of the addition and subtraction of fractions can be ¼ plus 2/3. This question may look complex at first glance but this should never put you off.

You can clearly see that the two sets of fractions have different denominators and therefore we have to convert them into a common denominator.

We therefore have to multiply the first part with the second denominator and the second part with the first denominator.

In this case we multiply ¼ by 3 and 2/3 by 4. This applies to both the numerator and the denominator and therefore the final value will be 3/12 since 1*3 is 3 and 4*3 is 12.The second fraction will be 2/3*4 which gives us 8/12.

We now get two sets of fractions with common denominators.

These are 3/12 + 8/12.


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Once you get common denominators it becomes very simple to solve the sum. You simply leave the denominator the way it is and add the numerators. The final answer will be 11/12 that is 3+8=11 and 12 remains the same. The same applies to the subtraction of fractions. You just ensure you have a common denominator then you can deduct the numerators. However this should never be applied when it comes to the multiplication of fractions. You simply divide values that are divisible by each other then multiply the final values.


SUMMARY

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You can now clearly see that

adding and subtracting fractions is a simple process.

You can now go confidently for the aptitude challenge or test.


Adding and subtracting fractions

Education

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