| 1 |
+ |
1 |
= |
1 + 1 |
= |
2 |
|
|
|
|
| 4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
Step 3. Simplify the fraction:
(If you are unsure of the last step see Equivalent Fractions.)
Example 2:
Step 1: The bottom numbers are different. See how the slices are different sizes? We need to make them the same before we can continue, because we can't add them like this:
To make the bottom numbers the same, multiply the top and bottom of the first fraction (1/3) by 2, like this:
| × 2 |
 |
 |
| × 2 |
And now our question looks like this:
The bottom numbers (the denominators) are the same, so we can go to step 2.
Step 2: Add the top numbers and put them over the same denominator:
| 2 |
+ |
1 |
= |
2 + 1 |
= |
3 |
|
|
|
|
| 6 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
In picture form it looks like this:
Step 3: Simplify the fraction:
In picture form the whole answer looks like this:
With Pen and Paper
And here is how to do it with a pen and paper (press the play button):
Example 3:
Again, the bottom numbers are different (the slices are different sizes)!
But let us try dividing them into smaller sizes that will each be the same:
By multiplying the top and bottom of the first fraction by 5 we ended up with 5/15 :
| × 5 |
 |
 |
| × 5 |
And by multiplying the top and bottom of the second fraction by 3 we ended up with 3/15 :
| × 3 |
 |
 |
| × 3 |
The bottom numbers are now the same, so we can go ahead and add the top numbers:
Making the Denominators the Same
In the previous example how did I know to cut them into 1/15ths to make the denominators the same? You can read how to do this using either one of these methods:
They both work, use whichever you prefer!
Adding Mixed Fractions
I have a special page on Adding Mixed Fractions.