Addition of Fractions

Definition

Addition of fractions is the process of combining two or more fractions to find a single, equivalent fraction. It involves finding a common denominator and then adding the numerators of the fractions with the same denominator.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. To add fractions with different denominators, you must first find a common denominator.
2. The common denominator is the least common multiple of the denominators of the fractions being added.
3. Once you have a common denominator, you can add the numerators of the fractions and keep the common denominator.
4. The sum of the fractions will result in an equivalent fraction with the common denominator.
5. Adding fractions with the same denominator is simpler, as you can just add the numerators and keep the same denominator.

Review Questions

• Explain the process of adding fractions with different denominators.
  • To add fractions with different denominators, you must first find a common denominator. The common denominator is the least common multiple of the denominators of the fractions being added. Once you have a common denominator, you can add the numerators of the fractions and keep the common denominator. The sum of the fractions will result in an equivalent fraction with the common denominator.
• Describe the relationship between common denominators and equivalent fractions when adding fractions.
  • Finding a common denominator is crucial for adding fractions because it allows you to create equivalent fractions with the same denominator. This ensures that the fractions being added have the same unit value, making the addition process straightforward. The common denominator is the least common multiple of the denominators of the fractions being added. Once the fractions have a common denominator, you can add the numerators and keep the common denominator, resulting in an equivalent fraction that represents the sum.
• Analyze the differences between adding fractions with the same denominator and adding fractions with different denominators.
  • Adding fractions with the same denominator is simpler than adding fractions with different denominators. When the denominators are the same, you can directly add the numerators and keep the same denominator. However, when the denominators are different, you must first find a common denominator, which is the least common multiple of the original denominators. This step of finding the common denominator is necessary to create equivalent fractions that can be added. Once the common denominator is established, you can add the numerators and keep the common denominator, resulting in an equivalent fraction that represents the sum of the original fractions.

Related terms

Fraction: A fraction represents a part of a whole, expressed as a numerator over a denominator.

Common Denominator: The common denominator is the least common multiple of the denominators of the fractions being added.

Equivalent Fractions: Equivalent fractions have the same value, even though they may have different numerators and denominators.