Adding and subtracting fractions:
1. Make the denominators the same (using LCM)
2. Whatever you need to multiply or divide by to make the bottoms the same must also be done to the top
3. Add or subtract the numerators
4. Copy the denominators
5. Ask yourself: Is it improper? If so, change it to a mixed number. If not, proceed to step 6
6. Reduce the fraction to simplest form (or lowest terms)
Adding or subtracting mixed numbers:
1. Separate the fractions and the whole numbers into two problems
2. Add or subtract the fractions according to the fraction rules
3. Add or subtract the whole numbers according to whole number rules
4. Recombine the two answers into one
Multiplying fractions:
1. Multiply the numerators
2. Multiply the denominators
3. Ask yourself: Is it improper? If so, change it to a mixed number. If not, proceed to step 6
4. Reduce the fraction to simplest form (or lowest terms)
Dividing fractions:
1. Flip the fraction on the right upside down, so that the denominator ends up in the numerators place and the numerator ends up where the denominator was
2. Follow the rules for multiplying
Multiplying mixed numbers:
1. Change the mixed numbers into improper fractions (bottom times side plus top)
2. Multiply just like regular fractions
Dividing mixed numbers:
1. Change the mixed numbers into improper fractions (bottom times side plus top)
2. Divide just like regular fractions
Estimation with fractions: As with any kind of estimation...make sure that you round the numbers first...then compute the answer by adding/subtracting/multiplying/or dividing the rounded numbers
1. Round all fractions to the nearest whole number or the nearest half (0, 1/2, 1, 1 1/2, 2, 2 1/2, 3...) you can use a number line or change the fractions to decimals to help you round with even numbers it is easy to round...for example 0/8 and 1/8 round to 0 2/8, 3/8, 4/8, and 5/8round to 1/2, 6/8, 7/8, and 8/8 round to 1 whole
2. Add or subtract your rounded numbers