How Do You Add Fractions With Different Denominators?
Fractions are the bane of existence to many upper elementary school students. At first they seem easy, but once you start adding and subtracting them, fractions take on a whole new look. Adding and subtracting fractions, particularly if they have different denominators, is difficult for many students. However, by taking the math problem apart and doing it in a step-by-step manner, solving addition and subtraction problems that have fractions with different denominators can be a little bit easier. Remember that you can only add or subtract fractions that have a common denominator. If the denominators are different, you need to find a common denominator in order to add or subtract the fractions. The common denominator is the least common multiple of the two denominators. Look at the denominators to determine if either one is a prime number. If both of the fractions have prime numbers as the denominator, as in 2/3 + 3/5, finding the common denominator is simple. Simply multiply the two nu
