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Lesson 24

ADDING AND SUBTRACTING
FRACTIONS AND MIXED NUMBERS


In this Lesson, we will answer the following:

  1. How do we add or subtract fractions?
  2. How do we add fractions with different denominators?
  3. What number should we choose as the common denominator?
  4. How do we add mixed numbers?

Section 2

Subtracting mixed numbers.

To add or subtract anything, the units -- the names of what we are counting -- must be the same.

2 apples + 3 apples = 5 apples.

We cannot add 2 apples plus 3 oranges -- at least not until we call them "pieces of fruit"

In the name of a fraction -- "4 tenths," for example -- the unit is the denominator, tenths. (Lesson 20.)

4 tenths + 5 tenths = 9 tenths.
 1.   How do we add or subtract fractions?
  The names of what we are adding or subtracting -- the denominators -- must be the same.  Add or subtract only the numerators, and keep that same denominator.

  Example 1.    5
8		  +  2
8		  =  7
8		 .

"5 eighths + 2 eighths = 7 eighths."

The denominator of a fraction has but one function, which is to name what we are counting.  In this example, we are counting eighths.

  Example 2.    5
8		  −  2
8		  =  3
8		 .

Fractions with different denominators

To add or subtract fractions, the denominators must be the same.  Before continuing, therefore, the student should know how to convert to an equivalent fraction.  See Lesson 21, Examples 1, 2, 3, and especially Example 4.
 2.   How do we add fractions with different denominators?
2
3		   +   1
4
 
  Convert each fraction to an equivalent fraction with the same denominator.
 3.   What number should we choose as the common denominator?
 
  Choose a common multiple of the original denominators. Choose their lowest common multiple. (Lesson 22.)

We choose a common multiple of the denominators, because we change a denominator by multiplying it  Lesson 21.

  Example 3.      2
3		  +  1
4		 .

Solution.  The lowest common multiple of 3 and 4 is their product, 12. (See Lesson 21, Question 3.)

We will convert each fraction to an equivalent fraction with denominator 12.

2
3		  +  1
4		  =   8 
12		  +   3 
12
 
       =  11
12		 . 
We converted   2
3		  to   8 
12		   by saying, "3 goes into 12 four times.  Four times

2 is 8."

(In that way, we multiplied both 2 and 3 by the same number, namely 4.  See Lesson 21, Question 2.)

We converted   1
4		  to   3 
12		   by saying, "4 goes into 12 three times.  Three

times 1 is 3."  (We multiplied both 1 and 4 by 3.)

In practice, it is necessary to write the common denominator only once:

2
3		  +  1
4		  =  8 + 3
  12		  =  11
12		 .
  Example 4.      4
5		  +   2 
15

Solution.  The LCM of 5 and 15  is 15.  Therefore,

4
5		  +   2 
15		  =  12  +  2
    15		  =  14
15		 .
We changed   4
5		  to  12
15		   by saying, "5 goes into 15 three times. Three

times 4 is 12."

We did not change   2 
15		  , because we are not changing the denominator

15.


  Example 5.      2
3		  +  1
6		  +   7 
12

Solution.  The LCM of 3, 6, and 12  is 12.


2
3		  +  1
6		  +   7 
12		   =   8 + 2 + 7
     12
2
3		  +  1
6		  +   7 
12		   =   17
12
2
3		  +  1
6		  +   7 
12		   =  1  5 
12		 .
We converted   2
3		   to    8 
12		   by saying, "3 goes into 12 four times.  Four

times 2 is 8."

We converted   1
6		   to    2 
12		   by saying, "6 goes into 12 two times.  Two

times 1 is 2."

  We did not change   7 
12		  , because we are not changing the

denominator 12.

Finally, we changed the improper fraction   17
12		   to  1  5 
12		   by dividing 17

by 12. (Lesson 19, Question 9.)

"12 goes into 17 one (1) time with remainder 5."


  Example 6.     5
6		  +  7
9

Solution.  The LCM of 6 and 9  is 18.


5
6		  +  7
9		   =   15 + 14
   18		   =   29
18		   =  1 11
18		 .
We changed   5
6		   to   15
18		   by multiplying both terms by 3.
We changed   7
9		   to   14
18		   by multiplying both terms by 2.

  Example 7.    Add mentally   1
2		  +  1
4		 .
  Answer.    1
2		  is how many  1
4		 's?
1
2		  =  2
4		 .

Just as 1 is half of 2, so 2 is half of 4.  Therefore,

1
2		  +  1
4		  =  3
4		 .

The student should not have to write any problem in which one of

  the fractions is  1
2		 , and the denominator of the other is even.

For example,

1
2		  +   2 
10		  =   7 
10
  because   1
2		  =   5 
10		 .

Example 8.   In a recent exam, one eighth of the students got A, two fifths got B, and the rest got C.  What fraction got C?

 Solution.   Let 1 represent the whole number of students.  Then the question is:

1
8		  +  2
5		  + ?  = 1 .

Now,

1
8		  +  2
5		  =  5 + 16
   40		  =  21
40		 .
The rest, the fraction that got C, is the complement of   21
40		 .
It is  19
40		 .

 4.   How do we add mixed numbers?
  Add the whole numbers and add the fractions separately.


  Example 9.    4 3
8		   +  2 2
8		   =  6 5
8		 .

  Example 10.    3 2
5		   +  1 4
5		   =  4 6
5		 .
But  6
5		  is improper, we must change it to a mixed number:
46
  5		  = 1 1
5		 .

Therefore,

4 6
5		   =  4 + 1 1
5		   =  5 1
5		 .

Solution.  When the denominators are different, we may arrange the work vertically; although that is not necessary.

To add the fractions, the denominators must be the same.  The LCM

  of 4 and 8  is 8.  We will change  3
4		  to  6
8		 -- by multiplying both terms by 2:

  We added  6 + 3 = 9.    6
8		  +  5
8		  =  11
 8 		  = 1 3
8		 .
     9 + 1 3
8		  = 10 3
8		 .

At this point, please "turn" the page and do some Problems.

or

Continue on to Section 2: Subtracting mixed numbers


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