Understanding Fraction Addition and Subtraction
Fractions are everywhere in real life!
Whether you're sharing pizza slices, measuring ingredients, or dividing time, fractions help us understand parts of a whole. Adding and subtracting fractions lets us combine or compare these parts.
Key Steps to Remember
1️⃣ Find a common denominator (if denominators are different)
2️⃣ Add or subtract the numerators (top numbers)
3️⃣ Keep the denominator the same (bottom number)
4️⃣ Simplify your answer if possible
Interactive Examples
Example 1: Adding Fractions with Like Denominators
Sarah ate 3/8 of a pizza, and her brother ate 2/8. How much pizza did they eat together?
Since the denominators are the same (8), we just add the numerators:
3/8 + 2/8 = (3+2)/8 = 5/8
They ate 5/8 of the pizza together!
Example 2: Subtracting Fractions with Unlike Denominators
A recipe calls for 3/4 cup of flour, but you've already added 1/3 cup. How much more flour do you need?
Step 1: Find a common denominator (12 is the LCD of 4 and 3)
3/4 = 9/12 and 1/3 = 4/12
Step 2: Subtract the numerators: 9 - 4 = 5
9/12 - 4/12 = 5/12
You need 5/12 cup more flour!
Parent Tips 🌟
- Use real-life examples: Cooking is perfect for practicing fractions - double recipes or divide ingredients to create practical problems.
- Visual aids help: Use fraction circles, measuring cups, or pizza slices to make abstract concepts concrete.
- Encourage estimation: Before calculating exact answers, ask your child to estimate whether the answer will be more or less than 1.