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Door 8 · Grade 4

🔢 Fraction Operations

With the same denominator, add/subtract only the numerators

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Adding & Subtracting Like Fractions

When fractions have the same denominator (the bottom number), just add or subtract the numerators (the top numbers) and keep the denominator the same.
Example: 1/4 + 2/4 = (1 + 2)/4 = 3/4. And 3/5 − 1/5 = 2/5.

Worked example

Problem: Add 2/6 + 3/6.

  1. Same denominator: (2 + 3)/6 = 5/6.

Answer: Same denominator: (2 + 3)/6 = 5/6.

Comparing Fractions & Mixed Numbers

If two fractions have the same denominator, the one with the bigger numerator is bigger (3/4 > 1/4).
A mixed number is a whole number plus a fraction, like 1½. An improper fraction (top bigger than bottom) such as 5/4 can be written as the mixed number 1¼ (because 4/4 = 1, leaving 1/4).

Worked example

Problem: Which is bigger: 3/8 or 5/8?

  1. Same denominator → bigger numerator wins: 5/8.

Answer: Same denominator → bigger numerator wins: 5/8.