Adding Proper Fractions
1. The video below explains how to add proper fractions.
A proper fraction is a fraction in which the numerator is smaller than the denominator.
2. Jen and Fred each had
1 |
4 |
What fraction of the pie did they have together?
Jen =>
Fred =>
Jen + Fred =>
+

+
=
=
=
(simplify)
=
Jen and Fred had
a pie together.
1 |
4 |
Fred =>
1 |
4 |
Jen + Fred =>
1 |
4 |
1 |
4 |

1 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
=
1 + 1 |
4 |
=
2 |
4 |
=
2 / 2 |
4 / 2 |
=
1 |
2 |
Jen and Fred had
1 |
2 |
3. Charlie gives
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
How much of the pizza does Charlie give to Alfred and Beatrice together?
Alfred =>
Beatrice =>
Alfred + Beatrice =>
+

1 |
2 |
Beatrice =>
1 |
3 |
Alfred + Beatrice =>
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |

1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
=
1 x 3 |
2 x 3 |
1 x 2 |
3 x 2 |
=
3 |
6 |
2 |
6 |
=
5 |
6 |
Charlie gives
5 |
6 |
Since the two fractions,
and
, are unlike fractions (as the denominators are different), we must first change them to like fractions before we can add them (that is, find a common denominator).
1 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
In other words, at first, the pizzas are cut into different number of slices. To add them, we must cut them into same number of slices.