Adding and Subtracting Fractions - Elementary Math

1) What is the answer if you add 3/4 + 2/4:

a. 5/4
b. 6/4
c. 7/4
d. 8/4

2) What is the answer if you subtract 10/3 – 6/3:

a. 1/3
b. 4/3
c. 5/3
d. 7/3

Answer : 1) 5/4 (a)
2) 4/3 (b)

A fraction consists of two parts, an upper number called numerator and a lower number called a denominator. When adding or subtracting fractions that have the same denominators then the student should leave the denominator alone and just add or subtract the numerators.

The above problems are solved as follows:

3/4 + 2/4 = 5/4
(the 3 is added to the 2 to get a result of 5. The 4’s at the bottom are left untouched)

10/3 – 6/3 = 4/3
(the 6 is subtracted from the 10 to get a result of 4. The 3’s at the bottom are left untouched)

©Copyright 2008.Najwa S. Hirn. All rights reserved.