INSTRUCTIONS

The following  image was made from Add Fractions - Strict:

Addition with Fractions - Strict is similar to the previous program ADD UNLIKE FRACTIONS except that the addends may be mixed numbers and the sum must be entered so that the numerator is smaller than the denominator and the numerator and denominator are in lowest terms.

See the program MIXED NUMBERS for information on writing fractions in mixed form.

See the program RENAME IN LOWEST TERMS for information on writing fractions in lowest terms.

One method is to write each addend in fraction form. Then the addends are written with a common denominator. The numerators are then added for the sum 81/20. In this program, the sum must be entered as a mixed number and in lowest terms. So in the above example, only 4 1/20 is acceptable.

The sum number line shows the first addend 56/20 in red, and the second addend 25/20 in blue for a total of 81/20.

Another method is to work vertically as is shown:

In many examples, the sum may be found by visually combining the two addends.