Adding and Subtracting Fractions

Adding Fractions:

To begin adding fractions, let's only use fractions with "like" denominators!

-- That means the bottom number of the fractions will be the same

After watching this video, it may be easier to see how to add fractions.

But, let's go over the steps once more!

• Step 1. Identify that the denominators are the same number. In this video, the denominator was 15!

• Step 2. Add the two numerators together. The two numerators in the video were 3 and 7!

• Step 3. Find the greatest common factor to begin simplifying. For this example, 5 was the GCF.

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• Step 4. Divide each number by the GCF. 10, which is the numerator, divided by 5 equals 2. 15, which is the denominator, divided by 5 equals 3.

• Step 5. Once you have divided by the GCF, the simplified answer is 2/3. Great job!

  
  
  

Now let's try adding fractions with different denominators!

-- That means the denominators will not be the same, so be careful!

Adding fractions with unlike denominators is a lot harder, so it might help to watch the video a couple times. It may help to even practice along with the teacher as he walks through the problem!