Rule for Adding/Subtracting Fractions and Mixed Numbers:

• Change any whole or mixed numbers to improper fractions.

• Fractions cannot be added/subtracted unless they have the
same denominator. We usually try to find the Least Common
Denominator (LCD). **
• Change each fraction to an equivalent fraction using the least
common denominator ***.
• Once all fractions have the same denominator, we
add/subtract the numerators ONLY!!
• If necessary, reduce the sum to lowest terms and change
improper fractions to whole or mixed numbers.
• *** The least common denominator (LCD) for two or more
fractions is the least common multiple (LCM) of the
denominators.
• It is the smallest number that is evenly divisible (no
remainder) by each of the denominators of the fractions
being added.
• Example 1:
5 3
Find the sum of + and write as a mixed number reduced to
7 7
lowest terms.
Here both fractions have the same denominator. All that
has left to do is to add the numerators and just copy the
denominator.

5 3 5+3 8 𝟏
+ = = =𝟏
7 7 7 7 𝟕

This is a mixed number reduced to lowest terms!

• Example 2:
2 3
Find the sum of + and write as a proper fraction reduced to
5 7
lowest terms.
Here both fractions have different denominators. Before
we can add them, we will have to make the denominators the
same. We do this by using the least common denominator
(LCD). This is the smallest number that is evenly divisible (no
remainder) by 5 and 7.
Since 5 and 7 are prime numbers, we can find the least
common denominator (LCD) by multiplying them. That is, the
LCD is 7(5) = 35.
• Example 2:
Now we have to change each fraction to an equivalent
fraction using the least common denominator (LCD).
2 2 7 14 3 3 5 15
= ⋅ = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 = ⋅ =
5 5 7 35 7 7 5 35
and
14 15 14 + 15 29
+ = =
35 35 35 35
This is a proper fraction reduced to lowest terms!
• Example 3:
5 1 3
Simplify + − . Write the result as a proper fraction
6 4 16
reduced to lowest terms.

NOTE:
The word "simplify" is used often in mathematics
and, depending on the situation, requires us to carry out
different calculations. Here "simplify" means to add the
first two fractions and then subtract the third one from
this sum.
• Before we can simplify (add and subtract), we MUST
change the denominators to the same number, preferable the
smallest number that each denominator will divide into
evenly (without remainder).

• NOTE: When adding and subtracting fractions we are always

trying to find the least common denominator to keep the
calculations manageable. The least common denominator is
the smallest number that each denominator will divide into
evenly.
• Finding the LCD is not mandatory! The product
of all denominators used for the common denominators
works just as well. Certainly, 6(4)(16) = 384 is a common
denominator, but not necessarily the least common
denominator. Since 4, 6, and 16 are not prime numbers, we
will attempt to find a common denominator that is smaller
than 384.
Use prime factorization:
• Write the prime factorization of each number.
• Line up the common factors.
• To find the LCD, multiply one number from each column.

4, 6, and 12
• 4 = 2⋅2
• 6 = 2⋅ ⋅3
• 16 = 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2
• 2∙2∙2∙2⋅3
• LCD: 48
• NOTE: 48 is the smallest number that 4, 6, and 16 divide into
evenly. This is our least common denominator.
 Now we have to change each fraction to an equivalent
fraction using the least common denominator (LCD).

5 5 8 40 1 1 12 12 3 3 3 9
= ⋅ = and = ⋅ = and = ⋅ =
6 6 8 48 4 4 12 48 16 16 3 48
then
40 12 9 40 + 12 − 9 52 − 9 𝟒𝟑
+ − = = =
48 48 48 48 48 𝟒𝟖

This is a proper fraction reduced to lowest terms!

• Example 4:
3
Find the difference of 4 − and write as a mixed number
8
reduced to lowest terms.
Here the minuend is a whole number. We will first
change it to an improper fraction as follows:
3 4 3
4− = −
8 1 8
 Since every number has a factor of 1 and then there is
only an 8, we can find the least common denominator (LCD) by
multiplying them. That is, the LCD is 1(8) = 8.
Now we have to change the whole number to an
equivalent fraction using the least common denominator (LCD).
4 4 8 32
= ⋅ =
1 1 8 8
and
32 3 32 − 3 29 𝟓
− = = =𝟑
8 8 8 8 𝟖
This is a mixed number reduced to lowest terms!
• Example 5:
1 7 1
Simplify 7 + 2 − 4 and write as a mixed number.
4 8 3
Here we are dealing with mixed numbers. We will first
change them to improper fractions as follows:
1 7 1 29 23 13
7 +2 −4 = + −
4 8 3 4 8 3
All fractions have a different denominator. Before we can
simplify, we will have to make the denominators the same. We
do this by using the least common denominator (see Example 3
above).
• Example 5:

3 is a prime number, however, 4 and 8 are not prime

numbers. Therefore, the least common denominator (LCD) is not
found by calculating their product. Although, the product 3(4)(8)
= 96 would be an acceptable common denominator.
Use prime factorization:
• Write the prime factorization of each number.
• Line up the common factors.
• To find the LCD, multiply one number from each column.

3, 4, and 8
• 3 = 3⋅1
• 4 = 2⋅2
• 8= 2⋅2⋅2
• 3∙1∙2∙2⋅2
LCD: 24
• NOTE: 24 is the smallest number that 3, 4, and 8 divide into
evenly. This is our least common denominator.
Now we have to change each fraction to an equivalent
fraction using the least common denominator (LCD) and carry
out the operations.
29 23 13 29 6 23 3 13 8 174 69 104
+ − = ⋅ + ⋅ − ⋅ = + −
4 8 3 4 6 8 3 3 8 24 24 24
139 𝟏𝟗
= =𝟓
24 𝟐𝟒
This is a mixed number reduced to lowest terms!
Rule:
• Change any whole or mixed numbers to improper fractions.
• Cross-cancel as much as possible. NOTE: When multiplying
two fractions, cross-canceling means that the numerator of
one fraction and the denominator of the other fraction have
a common factor that can be divided out
• Multiply the numerators AND multiply the denominators.
• If necessary, reduce the result to lowest terms.
• Example 6:
3 8
Find the product of ⋅ and write as a proper fraction reduced
4 9
to lowest terms.
Step 1 of the Multiplication Rule is done. Both numbers
are fractions.
Step 2 requires us "to cross-cancel as much as possible"
before we carry out the multiplication.
 3 8 1 2
⋅ = ⋅
4 9 1 3
We find
3 8 𝟐
⋅ =
4 9 𝟑
This is a proper fraction reduced to lowest terms!
• Example 7:
3 7
Find the product of ⋅ and write as a proper fraction reduced
4 8
to lowest terms.
Since cross-canceling is not possible, we simply multiply
the numerators and the denominators.
3 7 3 7 𝟐𝟏
⋅ = =
4 8 4 8 𝟑𝟐
This is a proper fraction reduced to lowest terms
• Example 8:
7
Find the product of 32 ⋅ and write as a mixed number reduced
8
to lowest terms.
Here the multiplicand is a whole number. We will first
change it to an improper fraction as follows:
32 7
⋅
1 8
32 7 4 7 4 7 28
⋅ = ⋅ = = = 𝟐𝟖
1 8 1 1 1 1 1
This is a mixed number reduced to lowest terms.
• Example 9:
2 1
Find the product of2 ⋅1and write as a mixed number
5 3
reduced to lowest terms.
Here the multiplicand and the multiplier are mixed
numbers. We will first change them to improper fractions.
12 4
⋅
5 3
12 4 4 4 4 4 16 𝟏
⋅ = ⋅ = = =𝟑
5 3 5 1 5 1 5 𝟓
This is a mixed number reduced to lowest terms.
• Example 10:
1
Find the product of3 ⋅ 5 and write as a mixed number reduced
4
to lowest terms.
Here the multiplicand is a mixed number and the
multiplier is a whole number. We will first change them to
improper fractions.
13 5
⋅
4 1
13 5 13 5 65 𝟏
⋅ = = = 𝟏𝟔
4 1 4 1 4 𝟒
This is a mixed number reduced to lowest terms.
Rule:
• Change any whole or mixed numbers to improper fractions.
• Convert the division to an equivalent multiplication problem
using the reciprocal *** of the divisor as the multiplier.
• Then multiply according to the rule for multiplying fractions
and mixed numbers.

*** Interchanging the numerator and denominator of a

fraction results in a fraction that is called the reciprocal of
the original fraction. When a number is multiplied by its
reciprocal, the product equals 1.
• Example 11:
5 3
Find the quotient of ÷ and write as a proper fraction reduced
8 4
to lowest terms.
5 3 5 4
We will write the quotient ÷ as the product ⋅ .
8 4 8 3
Cross-canceling and multiplying results in the following:
5 4 5 1 5 1 𝟓
⋅ = ⋅ = =
8 3 2 3 2 3 𝟔
This is a proper fraction reduced to lowest terms.
• Example 12:
5
Find the quotient of21 ÷ 3 and write as a mixed number
8
reduced to lowest terms.
Here the multiplicand is a whole number and the
multiplier is a mixed number. We will first change them to
improper fractions.
21 29
÷
1 8
21 8 21 8 168 𝟐𝟑
⋅ = = =𝟓
1 29 1 29 29 𝟐𝟗
This is a mixed number reduced to lowest terms.
• Example 13:
7
Find the quotient of6 ÷ 5 and write as a mixed number
9
reduced to lowest terms.
Here the multiplicand is a mixed number and the
multiplier is a whole number. We will first change them to
improper fractions.
61 5
÷
9 1
61 1 61 1 61 𝟏𝟔
⋅ = = =𝟏
9 5 9 5 45 𝟒𝟓
This is a mixed number reduced to lowest terms.
1. Perform the following operations and reduced the final
answer to its lowest terms.
5 1 5 7
a. + c. 𝑥
6 8 8 10
3 4 4 2
b. − d. ÷
4 5 7 5

2. Solve the following problems involving fraction.

2
a. Anton spent of his money on books. He spent
5
1
another of his money on buying pens. What
5
fraction of his money was left?
 1 3
b. Mr. De Guzman bought 7 kg meat. He used 2 kg for
2 4
1
afritada, 3 kg for menudo, and the rest for pochero.
8
How many kilograms of meat did he use for pochero?

c. Maria has seven packages of peanuts. Each pack

4
contains cup. She needs 8 cups of peanuts to make
5
peanut brittle. How many more cups does she need?

d. Mrs. Cruz bought a loaf of bread for breakfast. It

measures 18 inches long. How many slices can she
1
make if each slice measures 1 inches long?
8
For further reading, you may visit the following websites:

• http://sites.csn.edu/istewart/mathweb/Math095/fractions/fr
act_operations.html (Retrieved July 2018)
• http://sites.csn.edu/istewart/mathweb/Math095/fractions/fr
act_operations.html (Retrieved July 2018)
• https://www.epcc.edu/CollegeReadiness/Documents/Fraction
_Review_0-40.pdf (Retrieved July 2018)
• http://www.lacitadelle.com/mathematics/the_book_of_fracti
ons.pdf (Retrieved July 2018)