How to Add and Subtract Fractions Easily

Adding and subtracting fractions can be tricky, especially for 7th graders. It’s easy to feel lost or frustrated. This is often because fractions can have different bottoms, called denominators, which makes everything more complicated. Let’s go through the important steps to make it easier.

Step 1: Know What a Denominator Is

This might sound basic, but it’s important to know what a denominator means.

The denominator shows how many equal parts a whole is cut into.

If you don’t understand this, adding or subtracting fractions can become really confusing.

Step 2: Find a Common Denominator

A big challenge when adding or subtracting fractions is finding a common denominator.

This means you need the same bottom number for both fractions.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Look at the denominators.
2. Find the least common multiple (LCM) of those numbers.
3. Change each fraction to an equivalent one with the common denominator.

For example, if you want to add $\frac{1}{3}$ and $\frac{1}{4}$, the LCM of 3 and 4 is 12.

So, you’ll need to make both fractions have 12 as their denominator.

Step 3: Change the Numerators

Once you have a common denominator, you need to adjust the numerators (the top numbers) as well.

Make sure to multiply or change them correctly.

For our earlier example:

• $\frac{1}{3}$ becomes $\frac{4}{12}$
• $\frac{1}{4}$ becomes $\frac{3}{12}$

This way, both fractions are equal to the same value but have a common denominator.

Step 4: Add or Subtract

Now that both fractions have the same denominator, you can add or subtract them.

But be careful! Sometimes students forget whether to add or subtract, or they make mistakes in the math.

For example, adding the fractions together needs to be done carefully to avoid mistakes.

Step 5: Simplify the Result

Don’t forget to simplify your answer!

This step is often skipped.

Many students find it tough to reduce fractions or figure out the greatest common divisor (GCD).

Making sure your fraction is in the simplest form is very important.

Conclusion: Tips to Make It Easier

These steps can seem hard, but you can make it easier by:

• Practicing regularly with different fractions.
• Using helpful tools, like fraction bars or circles.
• Breaking the steps down into smaller pieces.

By doing these things, you can gain a better understanding and do a lot better when adding and subtracting fractions!