Adding Fractions
Adding Like Fractions
You can add fractions easily if the bottom number (the denominator) is the same: /4 (One-Quarter)
1
/4 (One-Quarter)
/4 (Two-Quarters)
/2 (One-Half)
Another example:
5
/8
/8
/8
/4
Adding Unlike Fractions OR Adding Fractions with Different Denominators
But what if the denominators (the bottom numbers) are not the same? As in this example:
3
/8
/4
You must somehow make the denominators the same. In this case it is easy, because we know that 1/4 is the same as 2/8 :
3
/8
/8
/8
But it can be harder to make the denominators the same, so you may need to use one of these methods (they both work, use whichever you prefer):
Least Common Denominator, or Common Denominator