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LIKE AND UNLIKE FRACTIONS

DEFINITION

Definition of Like Fractions

The fractions which are having the same

denominator are called as like fractions.

Example :

⅗, ⁶⁄₅, ⅖, ⁷⁄₅
In all the above fractions, the denominator is same.
That is 5.

Definition of Unlike Fractions

The fractions which are having different

denominators are called as unlike fractions.

Example :

⅗, ⁶⁄₇, ²⁄₉, ⁷⁄₂

In the above fractions, denominators are different.
They are 5, 7, 9 and 2.

The above said stuff is clearly illustrated in the

picture shown below.

LikeFractions
1 2 3
4 4 4
个

Same
Denominators

UnlikeFractions

1 2 3
2 3

Different
Denominators

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When students want to identify the like fractions

and unlike fractions, they have to do a simple work.

Discover related topics

Fractions Practice Test

Fractions for Class 5

6th Grade Fractions Test

Multiplying and Dividing Fractions

Notes

Fraction Sums for Class 5

That is, they just have to look at the denominators

(bottom numbers) of the fractions.

If they are same, they can say that they are like
fractions.

In case the denominators are different, they can say

that they are unlike fractions.

Adding and Subtracting Fractions

We can understand the difference bet ween like

fractions and unlike fractions from the definitions
explained above.

The difference bet ween like fractions and unlike

fractions will play a key role in adding and
subtracting of fractions.

Additition or Subtraction of Two

Like Fractions

We have to follow the steps given below to add or

subtract t wo like fractions.

Step 1 :

When t wo fractions with the same denominator are

added or subtracted, take the denominator once.

Step 2 :

Now, add or subtract the numerators and simplify

the resulting fraction, if required.

Example :

Find the value of :

⅕+ ⅖
Solution :

= ⅕+⅖
The given t wo fractions have the same denominator.
That is 5.

So, take the denominator once and add the

numerators.

= ⁽¹ ⁺ ²⁾⁄₅

= ⅗

Additition or Subtraction of Two

Unlike Fractions

We can use one of the following methods to add or

subtract t wo fractions with unlike denominators.

1. Cross-Multiplication method

2. LCM (Least Common Multiple) Method.

Cross - Multiplication Method :

In addition or subtraction of t wo unlike fractions, if

the denominators are co-prime or relatively prime,
we have to apply this method.

We have to follow the steps explained below in cross

multiplication method.

Step 1 :

Multiply the numerator of the first fraction by the

denominator of the second fraction.

Step 2 :

Multiply the numerator of the second fraction by

the denominator of the first fraction.

Step 3 :

Multiply the denominators of both fractions and

take it as common denominator for the results of
step 1 and step 2.

Step 4 :

Simplify the result of step 3.

Example :

Let us consider the addition of t wo fractions given

below.

⅛+⅓
In the above t wo fractions, denominators are 8 and
3.

For 8 and 3, there is no common divisor other than 1.

So 8 and 3 are co-prime.

Here, we have to apply cross-multiplication method

to add the t wo fractions 1/8 and 1/3 as shown
below.

LCM (Least Common Multiple) Method :

In addition or subtraction of t wo unlike fractions, if

the denominators of the fractions are not co-prime
(there is a common divisor other than 1), we have to
apply this method.

We have to follow the steps explained below in LCM

method.

Step 1 :

Find the least common multiple of the denominators

of the given fractions.

Step 2 :

Using the least common multiple found in step 1,

make all the fractions as like fractions.

Step 3 :

In like fractions, the denominator of all the fractions

will be same. So take the denominator once and
simplify the numerators.

Example :

Let us consider the addition of t wo unlike fractions

given below.

⁵⁄₁₂ + ¹⁄₂₀
In the above t wo fractions, denominators are 12 and
20.

For 12 and 20, if there is at least one common divisor

other than 1, then 12 and 20 are not co-prime.

For 12 and 20, we have the following common

divisors other than 1.

2 and 4

So 12 and 20 are not co-prime.

In the next step, we have to find the LCM (Least

common multiple) of 12 and 20.

12 = 22 x 3

20 = 22 x 5

When we decompose 12 and 20 into prime fractors,

we find 2, 3 and 5 as prime factors for 12 and 20.

To get the least vcommon multiple of 12 and 20, we

have to take 2, 3 and 5 with maximum powers found
above.

So, the least common multiple of 12 and 20 is

= 22 x 3 x 5

=4x3x5

= 60

Now, make the denominators of both the fractions as

60 using multiplication.

⁵⁄₁₂ + ¹⁄₂₀), to make each denominator as 60,

In (
multiply the numerator and denominator of the first
fraction by 5 and the second by 3.

Kindly mail your feedback to v4formath@gmail.com

We always appreciate your feedback.

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