Four rules of fractions How to do

Addition and Subtraction The simple bits

1/7

1/8

Why were they so simple? 0 Because they all had the same denominator 0 They were all from the same families What if they are of different families?

1/2 1/4 Because we know that 1/2 = 2/4

1/8 1/4 1/8 Because we know that 1/4 = 2/8

But what about 1/4 + 1/3? We can’t add, because they have different denominators – not in the same family. 1/4 1/3

What family can we change them to? What will be the new denominator? 1/4 1/3 4 and 3 both divide into 12 So we can change them into 12ths

1/12

What about 1/2 – 2/5? What family can we change them to? What will be the new denominator? 1/2 1/5

2 and 5 both divide into 10 So we can change them into 10ths 1/10

We can do this without the pictures:

Multiplication and Division

Easy one: 1/3 2/3 += And because of commutivity, we can also say:

With two fractions: half of ¾? or

Without the pictures:

And division? Unfortunately, there is no easy way to show diagrams for division of fractions. Nor is there any obvious way of trying to make sense of it. The best thing is probably just to learn the rule!

To divide by a fraction 0 Do not change the first fraction 0 Change the division sign into a multiplication sign 0 Turn the second fraction upside down 0 Multiply the fractions

For example:

And finally, what to do about mixed numbers: