Fractional parts of a whole: Comparison and sum
Fractional Parts of a Whole: Comparison and Sum A fraction is a part of a whole that is smaller than 1. For example, if you have a pizza cut into 8 equal...
Fractional Parts of a Whole: Comparison and Sum A fraction is a part of a whole that is smaller than 1. For example, if you have a pizza cut into 8 equal...
A fraction is a part of a whole that is smaller than 1. For example, if you have a pizza cut into 8 equal pieces, each piece would be a fraction of 1. The whole pizza is 1 whole, and the pieces are each 1/8 of a whole.
Comparison:
We can compare fractions by placing them on a common denominator. This means finding a least common multiple of the denominators of the fractions. The least common multiple of 2 and 4 is 4, so we would need to rewrite 2/4 and 4/4 in the same denominator.
Adding fractions with the same denominator requires adding the numerators. Adding 2/4 and 4/4 gives 6/4, which is equivalent to 3/2.
Sum:
Adding fractions with different denominators requires finding a common denominator first. This usually involves finding the least common multiple of the denominators.
Once we have the same denominator, we can add the numerators. For example, 1/2 + 1/4 = 3/4.
Sometimes, when adding fractions with different denominators, we may need to simplify the answer by finding a common denominator. This means finding the least common multiple of the denominators and then adding the fractions with the same denominator.
Examples:
3/4 + 1/4 = 4/4 = 1
2/5 - 1/5 = 1/5
3/6 + 2/6 = 5/6
4/8 - 2/8 = 2/8 = 1/4
By understanding how to compare and add fractions with different denominators, you can easily solve various age and fraction puzzles