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Basic Operations with Fractions

1. Adding and subtracting fractions: 7 1
Ex 1a: Ex 1b:
2 1 

• Get a common denominator 3 4 8 2
• Add or subtract the numerators 8 3
 
7 4
 
• Keep the denominator the same 12 12 8 8
11 3
 
12 8

2. Multiplying fractions:  3  2   3  1 
Ex 2a:    Ex 2b:  5  6 
• Multiply across, then reduce  8  3 
OR
1
6  3  1 
   
• Reduce early, then multiply across 24  5  6 2
1 1

4 10

3. Dividing fractions: 9 3
• Rewrite as multiplication problem Ex 3: 
16 4
• K eep the first fraction 9 4
  
• F lip the second fraction (reciprocal) 16  3 
• C hange divide to multiply 
36 3

48 4
 Practice Problems
2 2 5 3 1
1)  2)  
3 5 6 4 2

10 9 6
10 6  
 12 12 12
15 15

19 6
16 1 
1 12 12
15 15

25
2 1
12 12
 Practice Problems
5 3 11 2 1
3)  4)  
6 5 12 3 4

11 8 3
25 18  
 12 12 12
30 30
3 3
7 
12 12
30
6 1

12 2
 Practice Problems
 5  3   4  2  11
5)    6)    
 9  8   5  3  15

8 11
 5  31  
   15 15
 9 3  8 
19 4
5 1
15 15
24
 Practice Problems
3
3 5
7) 7 3
 8) 4
 
8 4 5 4 6
6
1 36
3
74
   
2 83
2
45
7 1
1
6 6 9
10