How to …

How to Add Fractions

For some reason, fractions seem to frighten people. Even though we deal with fractions all day long (part of an hour, part of a dollar, etc.), when it comes to even the simplest of math, if fractions are involved, many people lock up with fear.

The math part is not difficult, and we will explain it in a little bit, but first, let's help with the high-level understanding of fraction addition by using a visual. Picture a piece of pizza sliced evenly into six pieces. Each slice, then, is 1/6. If one person ordered 1 slice (1/6), and a second person ordered 1 slice (1/6), that makes 2/6. You simply add the numerator (the number on top) for fractions that have the same denominator (the number on bottom). EASY!

But what happens when the fractions have different denominators? For example, what if one person orders 1/3 of a pizza, and another orders 1/2 of a pizza?

You MUST convert the fraction into common units.

Two slices would be 1/3, right? (2/6 = 1/3) And three slices is 1/2 (3/6 = 1/2).

So, if one person wanted 1/2 the pizza, and another wanted 1/3 of the pizza, how many slices do you need to give away? OH NO...you have to add fractions! Don't panic! Let's break it down.

How many slices is in the order for 1/2 the pizza? Three. How many slices is order for 1/3 of the pizza? Two. How many slices for both orders? Five. Five slices, or 5/6, since each slice is one-sixth (1/6).

Congratulations...you just added fractions. You added 1/2 to 1/3 and got 5/6. And it wasn't magic.

What you did is find the "common denominator". That's a fancy term for the fraction that works out evenly for both types of orders...in the case of the pizza, the common denominator was 1/6.

To explain it in the math format: to add fractions you must first convert the fractions so they all have the same denominator (the bottom number), then you simply add the numbers across the top. The common denominator between 1/2 and 1/3 is "6". (1/2 = 3/6, and 1/3 = 2/6). Therefore, 1/2 + 1/3 is the same as 3/6 + 2/6 is the same as 5/6.

Before you can be good at adding fractions, you MUST be good at finding common denominators and converting the fraction. Once you do, it is as simple as adding the top numbers together. The last step would be to simplify the fraction (reduce it to the smallest possible denominator).

To summarize: convert the fractions to common denominators, sum the numerators, simplify.

Linda - http://how.best-free-information.com - The "How" Blog