HOW TO ADD AND SUBTRACT FRACTIONS 1. You must have common denominators (bottom number of a fraction). 2. Add or subtract the numerators (top number of a fraction) and put it over the denominator. Do NOT add/subtract the denominators. 1 + 2 =3 3 _1 = 2 4 4 4 4 4 4
HOW TO MAKE COMMON DENOMINATORS 1. Find a relationship between the two denominators (3 and 6 are both factors of 6, so 6 becomes the denominator). 2. If you can't see a relationship between the two denominators, just multiply them together. Use this as a last resort. ( 3 x 6 = 18, so 18 becomes the denominator) 3. Whatever you multiplied the original denominator by to get the new denominator, you must also multiply the numerator by that number. 1 + 1 = ? 3 6 ?
HOW TO MULTIPLY FRACTIONS 1. No need for common denominators! 2. Multiply the numerator times the numerator to get the numerator answer. 3. Multiply the denominator times the denominator to get the denominator answer.
1 X 2 = 2 3 6 18
HOW TO DIVIDE FRACTIONS 1. Get out your magic wand. 2. Aim the magic wand at the division sign and make it a multiplication sign. 3. Uh, OH! Your magic is so strong that the second fraction "flipped over" (a.k.a. the reciprocal). 4. Now treat it as you would a fraction multiplication equation by multiplying the numerator times the numerator and the denominator times the denominator.