Common Core: 5th Grade Math : Add Fractions with Unlike Denominators

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Common Core: 5th Grade Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Add Fractions With Unlike Denominators

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}+\frac{1}{2}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{6}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}+\frac{1}{2}\)

In order to solve this problem, we first have to find common denominators. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\times\frac{2}{2}=\frac{2}{4}\)

Now that we have common denominators, we can add the fractions. Remember, when we add and subtract fractions, we only add or subtract the numerator. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}+\frac{2}{4}=\frac{3}{4}\)

Example Question #2031 : Common Core Math: Grade 5

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{5}+\frac{1}{2}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{7}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{10}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{7}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{8}{10}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{20}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{10}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{5}+\frac{1}{2}\)

In order to solve this problem, we first have to find common denominators. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{5}\times\frac{2}{2}=\frac{2}{10}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\times \frac{5}{5}=\frac{5}{10}\)

Now that we have common denominators, we can add the fractions. Remember, when we add and subtract fractions, we only add or subtract the numerator. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{10}+\frac{5}{10}=\frac{7}{10}\)

Example Question #2 : Add Fractions With Unlike Denominators

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}+\frac{2}{5}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{11}{15}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{15}{11}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{11}{30}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{11}{15}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}+\frac{2}{5}\)

In order to solve this problem, we first have to find common denominators. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\times\frac{5}5{}=\frac{5}{15}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{5}\times\frac{3}{3}=\frac{6}{15}\)

Now that we have common denominators, we can add the fractions. Remember, when we add and subtract fractions, we only add or subtract the numerator. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{15}+\frac{6}{15}=\frac{11}{15}\)

Example Question #143 : How To Add

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}+\frac{2}{7}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{11}{28}}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{11}{14}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{14}{11}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{9}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{11}{14}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}+\frac{2}{7}\)

In order to solve this problem, we first have to find common denominators. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\times\frac{7}{7}=\frac{7}{14}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{7}\times\frac{2}{2}=\frac{4}{14}\)

Now that we have common denominators, we can add the fractions. Remember, when we add and subtract fractions, we only add or subtract the numerator. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{14}+\frac{4}{14}=\frac{11}{14}\)

Example Question #2021 : Numbers And Operations

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}+\frac{1}{3}=\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1\frac{1}{12}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{12}{13}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{13}{24}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{7}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1\frac{1}{12}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}+\frac{1}{3}\)

In order to solve this problem, we first have to find common denominators. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}\times\frac{3}{3}=\frac{9}{12}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\times\frac{4}{4}=\frac{4}{12}\)

Now that we have common denominators, we can add the fractions. Remember, when we add and subtract fractions, we only add or subtract the numerator. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{9}{12}+\frac{4}{12}=\frac{13}{12}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{13}{12}=1\frac{1}{12}\) because \(\displaystyle 12\) can go into \(\displaystyle 13\) one time, with one left over. 

Example Question #2022 : Numbers And Operations

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{6}+\frac{2}{4}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 1\frac{1}{3}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{12}{16}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{10}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{24}{16}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{16}{24}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1\frac{1}{3}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{6}+\frac{2}{4}\)

In order to solve this problem, we first have to find common denominators. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{6}\times\frac{2}{2}=\frac{10}{12}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{4}\times\frac{3}{3}=\frac{6}{12}\)

Now that we have common denominators, we can add the fractions. Remember, when we add and subtract fractions, we only add or subtract the numerator. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{10}{12}+\frac{6}{12}=\frac{16}{12}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{16}{12}=1\frac{4}{12}=1\frac{1}{3}\) because \(\displaystyle 12\) and go into \(\displaystyle 16\) one time with four left over. \(\displaystyle \frac{4}{12}\) can be reduced to \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3}\) by dividing the numerator and the denominator by \(\displaystyle 4\)

Example Question #2023 : Numbers And Operations

Solve the following:

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}+\frac{1}{7}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{17}{42}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{10}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{17}{21}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{5}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{16}{21}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{17}{21}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}+\frac{1}{7}\)

In order to solve this problem, we first have to find common denominators. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}\times\frac{7}{7}=\frac{14}{21}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{7}\times\frac{3}{3}=\frac{3}{21}\)

Now that we have common denominators, we can add the fractions. Remember, when we add and subtract fractions, we only add or subtract the numerator. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{14}{21}+\frac{3}{21}=\frac{17}{21}\)

Example Question #2024 : Numbers And Operations

Solve:

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}+\frac{1}2{}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{12}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{6}{7}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{6}\)

\(\displaystyle 1\frac{1}{6}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{5}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1\frac{1}{6}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}+\frac{1}2{}\)

In order to solve this problem, we first have to find common denominators. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{3}\times\frac{2}{2}=\frac{4}{6}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\times\frac{}3{3}=\frac{3}{6}\)

Now that we have common denominators, we can add the fractions. Remember, when we add and subtract fractions, we only add or subtract the numerator. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{6}+\frac{3}{6}=\frac{7}{6}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{6}=1\frac{1}{6}\) because \(\displaystyle 6\) can go into \(\displaystyle 7\) one time with \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{6}\) left over. 

Example Question #62 : How To Add Fractions

Solve: 

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}+\frac{4}{8}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{8}{6}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{12}5{}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{5}{12}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}+\frac{4}{8}\)

In order to solve this problem, we first have to find common denominators. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{4}\times\frac{2}{2}=\frac{2}{8}\)

Now that we have common denominators, we can add the fractions. Remember, when we add and subtract fractions, we only add or subtract the numerator. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{2}{8}+\frac{4}{8}=\frac{6}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{6}{8}\div\frac{2}{2}=\frac{3}{4}\)

Example Question #63 : How To Add Fractions

Solve:

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}6{+\frac{3}{8}}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{25}{48}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{24}{25}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{7}{14}\)

\(\displaystyle 1\frac{1}{24}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1\frac{1}{24}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}6{+\frac{3}{8}}\)

In order to solve this problem, we first have to find common denominators. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{4}{6}\times\frac{4}{4}=\frac{16}{24}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{3}{8}\times\frac{3}{3}=\frac{9}{24}\)

Now that we have common denominators, we can add the fractions. Remember, when we add and subtract fractions, we only add or subtract the numerator. 

\(\displaystyle \frac{16}{24}+\frac{9}{24}=\frac{25}{24}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{25}{24}=1\frac{1}{24}\) because \(\displaystyle 24\) can go into \(\displaystyle 25\) one time with \(\displaystyle 1\) left over. 

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