Adding and Subtracting Fractions With Different Denominators

   Adding and Subtracting Fractions With Different Denominators

When you add a fraction with different denominators, you must first have to find a common denominator. When you are done figuring out what the common denominator is, you can add both fractions. Finding common denominators are easy, but it takes a lot of courage. You have to remember to do the same thing for both numerators and denominators.(what you do to the bottom, you always do to the top) After you do these steps, adding fractions would be easier for you.

Subtracting fractions is like doing adding fractions. The only different thing you have to do is to subtract. You use the same steps but instead of adding, you will do subtracting. As I said before, it will become easier when you practice and practice and it really takes  a lot of courage to do this.

After you figure out the answer to the fractions your adding or subtracting, before handing your work in, you will have to find it's lowest term. Lowest term means when you get a huge fraction and you find it's lowest term. You will then have to find what number your going to use to divide in order to get it's lowest term. I will show you an example below.

Adding and Subtracting Fractions

When you add fractions with unlike denominators you need to make them common, to do that you need to multiply the denominators by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc. (anything that it can be multiplied by). When you do it to the bottom, you HAVE to do it to the top. Now you can simply do the equation. Don't forget to put your answer in lowest terms! When you add fractions with like denominators, you just need to solve the equation. NOTE; you need to put your answers in lowest terms (if it is not already) to do that you need divide it by 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, etc. (anything that it can be divided by).


When you subtract fractions with like denominators, you simply answer the equation. Remember to put it in lowest terms if it's not already. When you subtract fractions with unlike denominators you need to make them common, to do that you need to multiply the denominators by any number that it can be divided by. When you do it to the bottom, you HAVE to do it to the top. Now simply add the equation. Don't forget; you need to put it in lowest terms, if it's not already!


Now you're done!

Adding Fractions

How to add fractions with unlike denominators

You multiply the denominator number by the other denominator number (like so). What you do to the bottom, you always do at the top. 

If you get the same denominator, you're doing this correctly. Now you add the two fractions together. 

Is the answer in lowest terms? If the answer is not in lowest terms, you figure out if you have to divide it by 2, 3, 5, 10 or any other numbers that works. 

You do this process until you get the answer to be in lowest terms.

 Now you're done! Here's an example below.