need help to learn how to add unlike denominators? 5th grade
Study this site.
http://www.mathsisfun.com/fractions_addition.html
Sure! I'm here to help you learn how to add fractions with unlike denominators. Here's a step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Find a common denominator
To add fractions with unlike denominators, you need to find a common denominator. A common denominator is a number that both denominators can evenly divide into.
Example: Let's say you have to add 2/3 and 3/4. To find a common denominator, you can list the multiples of the denominators until you find a common one. For 3, the multiples are 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, etc. For 4, the multiples are 4, 8, 12, 16, etc. In this case, 12 is a common denominator.
Step 2: Convert the fractions
Next, you'll need to convert both fractions so that they have the same denominator. To do this, you multiply the numerator and denominator of each fraction by the same number that will make the denominators equal.
Example: For 2/3, you multiply the numerator and denominator by 4 because 4 is the number that will make the denominator 12 (common denominator). So, 2/3 can be converted to 8/12. For 3/4, you multiply the numerator and denominator by 3 because 3 is the number that will make the denominator 12. So, 3/4 can be converted to 9/12.
Step 3: Add the fractions
Once the fractions have the same denominator, you simply add the numerators together while keeping the denominator the same.
Example: Now that both fractions have a denominator of 12, you can add them together. 8/12 + 9/12 = 17/12.
Step 4: Simplify, if necessary
If the fraction can be simplified, you should simplify it. In our example, 17/12 is an improper fraction, meaning the numerator is larger than the denominator. To simplify it, you can divide both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD), which is the largest number that can divide evenly into both numbers.
Example: In this case, the GCD of 17 and 12 is 1, so you can't simplify it further.
So, the final answer is 17/12.
I hope this explanation helps you understand how to add fractions with unlike denominators!