Addition

1 2
Adding fractions is easy. To add + you multiply crossways and then multiply the two denominators.
4 3
Let's try an example:
1 2 3+8
=
4 3 12

We multiply crossways:
1x3=3
4x2=8
We add these numbers to get the numerator of the answer.
3 + 8= 11
We multiply the denominators, 4 x 3 = 12 to get the denominator of the answer.
11
The answer is , Easy.
12
Let's try another:
2 1
+ =¿
3 5
We multiply crossways.
21
=
35

2 x 5 = 10
3x1=3
We add the answers for the numerator of the answer.
10+3 = 13
Multiply the denominators for the denominator of the answer.
3 x 5 = 15
The completed problem looks like this:
21 10+3 13
= = ANSWER
35 15 15
Here is another example:
21
36
Multiply crossways.
2 x 6 = 12
3x1=3
We add the totals for the numerator, 15. Now multiply the denominators.
3 x 6 = 18
This is the denominator of the answer.
12+ 3 15
= ANSWER
3 x6 8
There is still one more step. Can the answer be simplified?
If both the numerator and denominator are even, we can divide them by 2 to get a simpler answer. For
4 2 1
example, could be simplified to and even further .
8 4 2

15
In the above answer of , the terms can't be divided by 2, but 15 and 18 are evenly divisible by 3.
18
(15 ÷ 3 = 5, 18 ÷ 3 = 6)
5
Our final answer is .
6
Each time you calculate fractions, you should give the answer in its simplest form. Check to see if
numerator and denominator are both divisible by 2, 3 or 5, or any other number. If so, divide them to give
the answer in its simplest form.
21 3
For instance, would be (both 21 and 28 are divisible by 7).
28 4
Try these for yourself:
1 1 3 1
a) + = c) + =
4 3 4 5
2 1 1 3
b) + = d) + =
5 4 4 5
How did you do? The answers are:
 7 13 19 17
a) b) c) d)
12 20 20 20

Subtraction:
A similar method is used for subtraction.

Multiplying Fractions
You probably know the answer to the following problem without doing any calculation.
1 1
x
2 4
Let’s examine how we could calculate the answer.
We multiply the numbers on the top, the numerators to get the numerator of the answer.
1x1=1
We multiply the numbers on the top, the denominators, to get the denominator of the answer.
2x4=8
1
The answer is
8
That’s the explanation. Who said fractions were difficult? They are easy. Let’s try another.
1 1
x =¿
3 4
(What we are saying is, “What is a quarter of a third or a third of a quarter?”
1 x 1 = 1 (the numerator)
3 x 4 = 12 (the denominator)
1
ANSWER
12
Let’s do one more:
2 1
x =¿
3 2
Multiply the numerators:
2x1=2
Multiply the denominators:
 3x2=6
2 1
The answer is which reduces to
6 3
Again, we can wee this so because, how many thirds do we have to begin with? Two. We have to work out
what is half of two-thirds. Half of 2 is 1, so the answer is one-third.
Try these for yourself.
1 1 2 2
a) x = c) x =¿
2 3 3 5
1 1 1 1
b) x =¿ d) x =¿
2 5 13 14
1 1
How would you multiply 1 by 3 ?
2 4
Firstly, you would change them from mixed numbers to improper fractions. A mixed number is one that
contains both whole numbers and fractions. Improper fractions are fractions of the numerator of which is
larger than the denominator.
1
To change 1 to an improper fraction. Multiply number (1) by the denominator, (2) to get an answer of 2.
2
3
and then add the numerator to get a new numerator of 3. The answer is . (One and a half is the same as
2
three halves.)
An easy way to understand the procedure is to look at the 1, then the half. How many halves are there in
1? That’s easy, 2. Plus one more half for the fraction for a total of 3 halves.
1
Let’s try for 3 . Multiply the number (3) by the denominator to get 12 quarters, plus one more quarter gives
4
13
an answer of . Now we can write the problem as:
4
3 13
x =¿
2 4
Multiply the numerators: 3 x 13 = 39. That is the numerator of the answer. Multiply the numerators: 3 x 13 =
39. That is the numerator of the answer. Multiply the denominators: 2 x 4 = 8.
39
The answer is
8
Dividing Fractions

To find the half of the number you divide by 2. For example, half of 6 is 3. You would write it like this:
 6 1
x =3
1 2
The rule is this:
To divide by a fraction, you turn it upside down and multiply.
1 4
6÷ =¿ 6 x = 24
4 1
Another way to express this would be to ask, “How many quarters can you get from 6 oranges?” You divide
6 oranges into quarters and get 26 pieces, enough to feed a football team (with reserved players), the
coach and the trainer, and still have some pieces left over.

1
Divide two cakes into sixths ( ¿ and you would have 12 pieces. You could give 12 people one piece each.
6
1
Therefore, 2 divided by = 12.
6
The calculation would look like this:

2 ÷
1 2 6 12
= x =
6 1 1 1
Try these division problems:
1 3 2 4
a) ÷ = c) ÷ =¿
3 4 7 5

7 2
b) ÷ =¿
8 3

The answers are:

4 21 5
a) b. c)
9 16 14

The third problem would be calculated:

2 4 2 5
÷ = x =¿
7 5 7 4
2 x 5 = 10 (numerator)
7 x 4 = 28 (denominator)
 10
The answer is . Both the numerator and the denominator are even numbers so we can divide them by
28
5
2 to get our answer of .
14