Adding Fractions Made Easy

Adding fractions is the next step to take once your child has mastered the basics of fractions as numbers. Once again the number line is your child's best friend here as not only allows your child to see the positions of fractions relative to the numbers around them, but also to convert a resulting improper fraction into a mixed number.

Video Examples

The following are a series of short videos showing fraction addition on the number line. Note that for all these examples the denominators are the same. The technique used here can only work if the fractions have the same denominators.

The Simplest Example

This example serves to show that with addition the top number changes but the bottom one does not.

An Example With A Mixed Number Answer

The example below shows how easy it is to get both the improper fraction and mixed number answers from a fractions addition.

One With More Parts

Like with all other numbers, it does not matter how many parts there are to the sum. Just keep going from left to right until all the parts are done.

More Complex Sums

There are a lot more aspects to fraction addition and subtraction including adding mixed numbers as well as adding those fractions with different denominators. However, this basic method shown above is the foundation for success in all these further areas.

Time To Practice

To practice this skill grab a free sheet of

printable number lines, or draw up your own. Then have a crack at this Fractions Addition worksheet. It's a PDF and so is downloadable and printable. It's free for personal use.

Top Of Page