How to Deal with Fractions



Name _____________________________

Steps to Deal with Fractions

|ADDING |SUBTRACTING |

|Get common denominators |Get common denominators |

|Add |Subtract (borrow only if necessary) |

|Simplify answer |Simplify answer |

|Reduce |Reduce |

|No improper answers |No improper answers |

|MULTIPLYING |DIVIDING (Keep, Change, Recip.) |

|No mixed numbers or whole numbers (Put whole numbers over 1. Change |(Same as multiplying except one additional step: see 1.5) |

|mixed numbers to improper fractions.) |No mixed numbers or whole numbers (Put whole numbers over 1. Change |

|Look to cross cancel (reduce any numerator with any denominator) |mixed numbers to improper fractions.) |

|Multiply (straight across) |1.5. Reciprocate second fraction and change [pic] to [pic] |

|Simplify answer |Look to cross cancel (reduce any numerator with any denominator) |

|Reduce |Multiply (straight across) |

|No improper answers |Simplify answer |

| |Reduce |

| |No improper answers |

7th graders:

When you learn how to deal with positive and negative fractions, all of the above stays the same, but you must also take into account all that you know about positive and negatives at the same time.

This is what I mean:

|Adding: |Subtracting: |

|Ask yourself if the fractions add (same signs) or subtract (opposite |Ask yourself if the fractions add (same signs) or subtract (opposite |

|signs). |signs). |

|Put the larger fraction on top to add. |Put the larger fraction on top to subtract. Borrow if you do not have|

|Ask yourself if the answer is positive or negative (which is bigger?).|enough pieces to take away the ones you need to. |

|Write your answer in simplest form. |Ask yourself if the answer is positive or negative (which is bigger?).|

| |Write your answer in simplest form. |

|Multiplying: |Dividing: |

|Use the regular multiplying rules for positive and negative numbers: |Use the regular dividing rules for positive and negative numbers: |

|1. [pic] |1. [pic] |

|2. [pic] |2. [pic] |

|3. [pic] |3. [pic] |

|4. [pic] |4. [pic] |

|Multiplying 2 numbers with same signs = + |Dividing 2 numbers with same signs = + |

|Multiplying 2 numbers with opposite signs = - |Dividing 2 numbers with opposite signs = - |

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