Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.

1

Adding Fractions

• Change all fractions to a common denominator

• Add all the numerators• Write down the total fraction• Reduce fraction to lowest terms

Fractions

Adding and Subtracting

Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.

Example:1/8 + 1/16 + 3/4 + 1/16Change to largest common

denominator

2/16 + 1/16 + 4/16 + 1/16=16/16=1

Add numerators, place over common denominator, reduce to lowest terms Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.

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Adding Fractions

Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.

4

Adding Fractions Example 2

• 3/8 + 1/2 + 5/8 + 3/4Change to largest common

denominator• 3/8 + 4/8 + 5/8 + 6/8=18/8=2 2/8=2

¼Add numerators, place over common

denominator, change from improper fraction to proper fraction, reduce to lowest terms

Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.

5

Subtracting Fractions• Change all fractions to a common

denominator• Subtract the numerators• Write down the remaining fraction• Reduce fraction to lowest terms

Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.

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Subtracting FractionsExample:

• 7/8 – 9/16Change to largest common

denominator

• 14/16 – 9/16 = 5/16Subtract numerators, reduce to

lowest terms if necessary

Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. All rights reserved.

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Subtracting FractionsExample 2:• 1 3/16 – 1/4Change mixed number to

improper fraction and change all to the largest common denominator

• 19/16 – 4/16 = 15/16Subtract numerators and reduce

to lowest terms if necessary