Adding Fractions For Dummies
Are you struggling to understand fractions? Fractions can be confusing and intimidating to learn but are essential in math. Do you want to learn how to add fractions with ease? If so, read on to understand fractions better by learning how to add them.
What are Fractions?
Fractions are part of a whole number. To understand them better, think of a pizza. When you cut a pizza in eight pieces, each piece is considered one-eighth. Each pizza piece is one fraction of the whole pizza. This is known as a proper fraction.
Adding Fractions
Adding fractions means combining like fractions. The fractions you are adding must have the same denominator, which is the bottom number of the fraction. This is because fractions are part of a whole, and if the fractions do not have the same denominator, they are not part of the same whole. If the fractions have different denominators, you must first find the least common denominator to add the fractions.
Least Common Denominator
The least common denominator is the smallest number that both fractions can be divided by. To find the least common denominator, the first step is to list out the multiples of each denominator. The lowest number that appears on both lists is the least common denominator. For example, if you are adding one-fourth and one-third, the first step is to list out the multiples of four and three.
Multiples of four are 4, 8, 12, 16 and so on. Multiples of three are 3, 6, 9, 12, and so on. The lowest number that appears on both lists is 12. This means 12 is the least common denominator for one-fourth and one-third.
Adding Fractions
Once you have found the least common denominator, you can add the fractions. To add fractions, first change the fractions to equivalent fractions with the same denominator. This means you must divide the denominator of the first fraction by the least common denominator and then multiply it by the numerator. Do the same for the second fraction. In the example above, 12 divided by four is three, so the equivalent fraction of one-fourth is three-twelfths. Likewise, 12 divided by three is four, so the equivalent fraction of one-third is four-twelfths.
The Final Step
The final step is to add the numerators of the equivalent fractions. In the example above, three plus four is seven. This means the sum of one-fourth and one-third is seven-twelfths. As you can see, adding fractions is not as difficult as it seems. With a little patience and practice, you will be able to add fractions with ease.
Closing Message
Now you know the basics of adding fractions! With this newfound knowledge, you can now do all your fraction math with confidence. Fractions may seem hard, but with the right understanding, you can be a master of fractions!