Add & Subtract Fractions (Like Denominators)

[ggfrac]1/5[/ggfrac]

9 slices

6

12

[ggfrac]7/8[/ggfrac]

They are not the same-sized units. It is like adding apples and oranges.

He added the denominators. He should only add the numerators.

3 whole pies and [ggfrac]4/6[/ggfrac] of a pie.

Method 1: 1 + 2 = 3, [ggfrac]1/3[/ggfrac] + [ggfrac]1/3[/ggfrac] = [ggfrac]2/3[/ggfrac], 3 + [ggfrac]2/3[/ggfrac] = 3[ggfrac]2/3[/ggfrac]

Method 2: 1[ggfrac]1/3[/ggfrac] = [ggfrac]4/3[/ggfrac], 2[ggfrac]1/3[/ggfrac] = [ggfrac]7/3[/ggfrac], [ggfrac]4/3[/ggfrac] + [ggfrac]7/3[/ggfrac] = [ggfrac]11/3[/ggfrac] = 3[ggfrac]2/3[/ggfrac]

It is easier to solve the problem by turning the mixed numbers into improper fractions.