How to Solve Fraction Questions in Math Portland OR

Steps

1. Take the denominators (bottom number) and find a common number between the two denominators when adding fractions, for say 1/2 + 1/4, you need do this. So in this case, the denominator would be 4 because 2 divides into 4 twice and 4 divides into 4.
2. Take the original denominator and multiply it by a number to make it into the common denominator once you have found a common denominator. So, if you need to get 2 (original denominator) into 4 (common denominator), you would multiply 2 x 2 to get 4.
3. Multiply the numerator (top number) by the same amount for whatever you multiply the denominator for. So for 1/2, since the common denominator is 4 the fraction would be changed to 2/4. Since you multiplied the top number (nominator) by 2.
4. Once those steps are complete, it should look like 2/4 + 1/4.
5. Add the numerator (top number) not the denominator.
6. So 1/2 + 1/4 = 2/4 + 1/4 = 3/4. So your final answer is 3/4.

1. Take the denominators (bottom number) and find a common number between the two denominators when subtracting fractions such as 1/2 - 1/4. In this case the denominator would be 4 because 2 divides into 4 twice and 4 divides into 4.
2. Take the original denominator and multiply it by a number to make it into the common denominator once you have found a common denominator. So if I need to get 2 (original denominator) into 4 (common denominator) I would multiply 2 by 2 to get 4.
3. Multiply the denominator for you must multiply the numerator (top number) by the same amount. So for 1/2, since the common denominator is 4 the fraction would be changed to 2/4. Since you multiplied the numerator (top number) by 2.
4. Once those steps are complete it should look like 2/4 - 1/4.
5. Add the nominator (top number) not the denominator.
6. So 1/2 - 1/4 = 2/4 - 1/4 = 1/4. So your final answer is 1/4.

1. Multiply the numbers across from each other. So say I had 1/2 x 1/4, I would multiply 1 x 1 and 2 x 4.
2. Your answer is 1/8.

1. Have your fraction ready, but flip the second fraction upside down and change the division sign into a multiplication sign. Say you had 1/2 divided by 1/4, you would change the question to 1/2 x 4/1. The answer is 4/2.
2. Change the improper fraction to a proper fraction.

• 1. See how many times the denominator can divide into the numerator. So in this case 2 can divide into 4 twice with none left over. So the answer would be 2 0/0, or 2.

1. Say you have the fraction 3 2/5.
2. Take the whole number (which is three) and multiply it with the denominator. (The answer is 15).
3. Add that answer to the numerator and you will have an easier fraction to add and subtract with once you are done.
4. 3 2/5 = 17/5 The bold fraction is the improper one.

Tips

• Use the improper fraction method for adding and subtracting fractions.
• Basic skills in the four operations(Multiplication, Division, Addition, and Subtraction) will help quicken the process quickly and easily.
• Another way to say "switching the numeratore and denominator" is to find out the Reciprocal. It's basically the numerator and denominator reversed. Ex. 2/4 would be 4/2

Warnings

• If you are not familiar with this, check your work.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Solve Fraction Questions in Math. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.