Unit 1 Summary

Throughout this week in Math 9 we have been working on adding and substracting fractions. For this assignment I will explain how to add fractions.

There are 4 main steps to adding fractions:
1. Turn any mixed fractions into improper fractions by multiplying the whole number by the denominator, and adding the sum to the nominator.
2. Find the LCM (lowest common multiple) of the denominators of the fractions you are multiplying. This is done by multiplying the denominator on each number by 1 to start, and raising the number by 1 until there are matching products from the current denominator you multiplied and any of the previous denominators you multiplied from the other number. Keep track of how many multiplications it took to find the LCM of EACH number.

Example: 4 and 6
4: 4(1), 8(2), 12(3)
6: 6(1), 12(2)

LCM:12

3. Change the denominators of both fractions to the LCM and multiply the nominators of both fractions to the number of multiplications it took to reach the LCM.
4. Add the two fraction’s nominators together. If desired/needed, revert to a mixed fraction and simplify the fraction by finding the lowest common divider (opposite of LCM).

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