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Help with adding/ subtracting fractions

The following information and resources will help your child with adding and subtracting fractions.

Adding or subtracting fractions – same denominator

Encourage your child to start adding and subtracting fractions with the same denominator before trying to work with fractions with different denominators.

Adding or subtracting fractions – different denominator

Be sure your child understands equivalent fractions before tackling adding or subtracting fractions. Adding and subtracting fractions requires fractions with unlike denominators to be changed so that all fractions have the same denominator.The example below uses two fractions: 3/4 and 5/6.

Adding or subtracting mixed numbers

There are two methods of adding or subtracting mixed numbers. Either add the whole numbers and then add the fraction parts, or convert each mixed number to an improper fraction before calculating. remind your child to reduce any answers to their lowest term and to change any improper fractions to mixed numbers.

Tips and Reminders

When adding/ subtracting mixed numbers:

• Add the whole number parts.
• Change the fractions as required to their equivalent values so all fractions have the same denominator.
• Add/ subtract the numerators. Leave the denominator as is.

The example below shows the adding of two mixed numbers.

Note: An alternative to the above method involves changing the mixed numbers to improper fractions (7/3 and 15/4), converting these to equivalent values (28/12 and 45/12), adding these, and finally changing the improper fraction to a mixed number.

Worksheets – adding, subtracting fractions

Use the worksheets below to practice adding and subtracting fractions

• Adding Fractions (same denominator) e.g. 4/7 + 2/7
• Adding Mixed Numbers (same denominator) e.g. 4 2/9 + 6 5/9
• Adding Fractions (different denominator) e.g. 2/3 + 1/4
• Adding Mixed Numbers (different denominator) e.g. 5 1/8 + 6 2/5
• Subtracting Fractions (same denominator) e.g. 4/7 - 2/7
• Subtracting Mixed Numbers (same denominator) e.g. 4 5/9 - 6 2/9
• Subtracting Fractions (different denominator) e.g. 2/3 - 1/4
• Subtracting Mixed Numbers (different denominator) e.g. 6 1/8 - 6