Adding and Subtracting Fractions w/ Unlike Denominators

Steps

100

What is the first step when solving adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators?

Find a common denominator.  

200

What is the second step when adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators?

Find equivalent fractions

300

What is the third step when adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators?

Add or subtract

400

What is the fourth step when adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators?

Simplify or reduce

500

What is the fifth step with adding or subtracting fractions with unlike denominators? 

Check your answer/work 

Adding Fractions w/ unlike denominators

100

1/2 + 1/4

3/4

200

1/6 + 2/3

5/6

300

1/5 + 3/10

5/10

400

6/12 + 2/6

2/12

500

 2/7 + 7/14

11/14

Subtracting fractions w/ unlike denominators

100

1/2 - 1/4

                                             

1/4

200

2/3 - 1/6

                                              

1/2

300

  1/5 - 1/10

                                             

 1/10

400

2/4 - 2/8

1/4

500

4/6 - 1/12

7/12

Vocabulary

100

What is a denominator?

The number below the line in a fraction.

200

What is a numerator?

The number above the line in a fraction.

300

What does equivalent mean?

Equal in value or the same in value.

400

What does simplify mean?

To reduce a fraction to it's simplest form or make the fraction as small as possible. 

500

What is a common denominator?

When the bottom number of the fraction is the same for both fractions.