Fractions

Overview:

In this workshop, you will learn to:

1. Change mixed numbers to improper fractions and improper fractions to mixed
numbers
2. How to find common denominators
3. Add and subtract fractions and mixed numbers
4. Raise and reduce fractions
5. Multiply and divide using fractions and mixed numbers

What is a Fraction?

What is a fraction and how can you use in real life ?

Other types of fractions you may have seen:

Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions

Now we will introduce mixed numbers and improper fraction. What do they look like ?

Mixed number:

Improper fraction:

Theses numbers look different but they are the same number.

Common Denominators

To find a common denominator, you look for the lowest number that each denominator
can divide into evenly. This number is called the Lowest Common Denominator, or the
LCD. Let’s try some examples.

You can not add or subtract fractions with different denominators. Therefore, before you
add or subtract fractions, you must find and change the fractions to a common
denominator.
Example 1: Find the LCD of and .
Example 2: Find the LCD of and .

Raising and Reducing Fractions

This section will help multiply and divide fractions into a simpler form . This section will
help you to reduce those monstrous fractions.
Some examples on reducing: since greatest common divisor is 4, divide the 4 and the
12 to have . If the number is too large, find some numbers that will reduce the
numerator and the denominator . Try these examples:
Reduce the following fractions:

Adding and Subtracting Fractions and Whole Numbers
With Common Denominators

If the fractions have a common denominator, then you can add or subtract the fraction’s
numerators. If not that’s when the LCD will be used to find the common denominator.

Example 1:
Example 2:
Example 3:
Example 4:

Adding and Subtracting Fractions and Whole Numbers
With Common Denominators

If the fraction does not have a common denominator, then the LCD will help find the
common denominator to help add or subtract our fractions. As the presenter goes on try
to do the problem with him/her.

Multiplying and Dividing Fractions

Finally, multiplying and dividing fractions does not require you to find the LCD. You
may have to reduce your fractions in order to solve those rigorous fractions. We can
never divide fractions, but we can take the reciprocal to change it to multiplication.