SchoolTube Community
Fractions can seem like tricky puzzles, especially when you're trying to add them together and they have different denominators. But don't worry, it's not as complicated as it seems! Let's break it down and learn how to conquer those unlike denominators.
Understanding the Basics
First things first, let's remember what a denominator is. Think of a fraction as a delicious pie. The denominator, the number at the bottom, tells you how many equal slices the pie is cut into. The numerator, the number on top, tells you how many slices you have.
The Common Denominator Challenge
Imagine you have one slice of a pie cut into tenths (1/10) and you want to add it to a slice of a pie cut into sixths (1/6). You can't just add 1/10 and 1/6 directly because the slices are different sizes! That's where finding a common denominator comes in.
Finding the Magic Number
A common denominator is simply a number that both denominators divide into evenly. The easiest way to find it is to start with the larger denominator and check if the smaller denominator divides into it. If not, keep going up in multiples of the larger denominator until you find a number that works.
In our example, the larger denominator is 10. Does 6 divide evenly into 10? Nope! So, let's try the next multiple of 10, which is 20. Does 6 divide evenly into 20? Still no! Let's try 30. Does 6 divide evenly into 30? Yes, it does! We've found our common denominator!
Creating Equivalent Fractions
Now that we have our common denominator (30), we need to rewrite both fractions with 30 as the denominator. Remember, we can't change the value of the fractions, just how they look.
-
For 9/10: To get from 10 to 30, we multiply by 3. Do the same to the numerator: 9 x 3 = 27. So, 9/10 is equivalent to 27/30.
-
For 1/6: To get from 6 to 30, we multiply by 5. Do the same to the numerator: 1 x 5 = 5. So, 1/6 is equivalent to 5/30.
Adding It All Up
Now we have 27/30 + 5/30. Since the denominators are the same, we can simply add the numerators: 27 + 5 = 32. Our answer is 32/30.
Simplifying (If Needed)
Sometimes, you can simplify your answer. In this case, both 32 and 30 can be divided by 2, giving us a simplified answer of 16/15.
You Did It!
Congratulations! You've successfully added fractions with unlike denominators. Remember, the key is finding that common denominator and then creating equivalent fractions. With a little practice, you'll be a fraction-adding pro in no time!
You may also like