Steps
What is the first step when solving adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators?
Find a common denominator.
1 1
____ + ____ =
2 4
3
__
4
1 1
____ - ___ =
2 4
1
___
4
3 2
____ + ___ =
4 3
17
____
12
What is a denominator?
The number below the line in a fraction.
What is the second step when adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators?
Create equivalent fractions
1 2
____ + ___ =
6 3
5
___
6
2 1
____ - ___ =
3 6
3
_____
6
1 5
____ + ___ =
4 12
8
______
12
What is a numerator?
The number above the line in a fraction.
What is the third step when adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators?
Add or subtract
1 3
____ + ___ =
5 10
5
____
10
1 1
____ - ___ =
5 10
_____
10
2 4
____ + ___ =
4 16
12
____
16
What does equivalent mean?
Equal in value or the same in value.
What is the fourth step when adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators?
Simplify or reduce
6 2
____ + ___ =
12 6
2
_____
12
2 2
____ - ___ =
4 8
2
___
8
3 4
____ - ___ =
5 15
5
____
15
What does simplify mean?
To reduce a fraction to it's simplest form or make the fraction as small as possible.
What is the fifth step with adding or subtracting fractions with unlike denominators?
Check your answer/work
2 7
____ + ___ =
7 14
11
_____
14
4 1
____ - ___ =
6 12
7
___
12
2 2
____ - ___ =
7 21
4
_____
21
What is a common denominator?
When the bottom number of the fraction is the same for both fractions.