1.

1 ARITHMETIC OPERATIONS ON FRACTIONS

1.1.1 Definition of Fraction
A fraction represents a part of a whole. Look at the circle on the right
which has been divided into five equal parts and two parts (the colored
ones) were taken. These two parts form a fraction of the whole circle.
Fractions are expressed numerically as a ratio of two numbers. The
given figure is represented by the fraction
2
5
The number at the top of the fraction bar (or vinculum) is what we call the numerator. It
represents the number of parts taken from the whole. On the other hand, the number below
the fraction bar is what we call the denominator. It represents the number of parts the whole
has been divided into.
Fractions with the same denominators are called similar fractions, while fractions with
different denominators are called dissimilar fractions.
Illustration:
Similar Fractions Dissimilar Fractions
2 4 3 2
and and
5 5 7 9

1.1.2 Types of Fractions

There are three types of fractions:
 Proper Fraction – a fraction where the numerator is less than the denominator; it
expresses an amount which is less than a unit
Illustration:
1 5 12 7 25
3 9 23 11 49
 Improper Fraction – a fraction where the numerator is greater than the denominator;
it expresses an amount which is greater than or equal to a unit
Illustration:
5 10 7 36 11
4 10 2 13 6
  Mixed Fraction – a fraction composed of a whole number and a proper fraction
Illustration:
1 3 13 2 9
1 5 4 10 3
2 6 15 21 13

1.1.3 Equivalent Fractions

Equivalent fractions are different fractions that name the same number. The numerator and
the denominator of a fraction must be multiplied by the same nonzero whole number in
order to have equivalent fractions.
For example, the fraction 2/3 is equivalent to the following fractions:
4 6 8 10 20 30
6 9 12 15 30 45
2 2 2 3 2 4 2 5 2 10 2 15
× × × × × ×
3 2 3 3 3 4 3 5 3 10 3 15

Take note that multiplying 2/3 by 2/2 to get 4/6 does not change the value of the fraction
since 2/2 is equal to 1. Can you find other equivalent fractions of 2/3?

1.1.4 Least Common Denominator

In order to perform some arithmetic operations on fractions, it is important for you to be
able to determine the least common denominator (LCD) of a set fractions. Essentially, the
LCD of a set of fractions is the least common multiple of their denominators.
Recall that the least common multiple (LCM) of two numbers refers to the smallest number
that is a multiple of both numbers. There are several methods for finding the least common
multiple of two or more numbers.

Method 1
One method of finding the LCM is by listing the multiples of each number.

Example 1: Find the least common multiple of 8 and 12 by listing their multiples.
Solution:
Multiples of 8: 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72, …
Multiples of 12: 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, …
There are many common multiples of 8 and 12 (written in bold) such as 24,
48, and 72. The first common multiple 24 is the least common multiple.
Example 2: Find the least common multiple of 24, 90, and 36 by listing multiples of each
number.
Solution:
Multiples of 24: 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168, 192, 216, 240, 264,
288, 312, 336, 360, 384, 408, 432, …
Multiples of 90: 90, 180, 270, 360, 450, 540, 630, …
Multiples of 36: 36, 72, 108, 144, 180, 216, 252, 288, 324, 360, …
From the lists above, we can say that the least common multiple of 24, 90, and
36 is 360.

Method 2
You can also find the LCM by writing the prime factorization of each number.

Example 3: Find the least common multiple of 8 and 12.

Solution:
8 =2×2×2 2 occurs thrice as a factor
12 = 2 × 2 × 3 2 occurs twice as a factor
3 occurs once as a factor
Write each factor the greatest number of times that it occurs in any of the
numbers and multiply these factors to find the LCM.
𝐿𝐶𝑀(8, 12) = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 = 24

Example 4: Find the least common multiple of 49, 63 and 20 using Method 2.
Solution:
49 = 7 × 7 7 occurs twice as a factor
63 = 3 × 3 × 7 3 occurs twice as a factor
7 occurs once as a factor
20 = 2 × 2 × 5 2 occurs twice as a factor
5 occurs once as a factor
Write each factor the greatest number of times that it occurs in any of the
numbers and multiply these factors to find the LCM.
𝐿𝐶𝑀(49, 63, 20) = 7 × 7 × 3 × 3 × 2 × 2 × 5 = 8820
As mentioned earlier, the lowest common denominator (LCD) is the least common multiple
(LCM) of the denominators of a given fraction.

Example 5: What is the LCD of 1/6 and 7/15? Write the equivalent of the given fractions
using the LCD.
Solution:
6=2×3 2 occurs once as a factor
3 occurs once as a factor
15 = 3 × 5 3 occurs once as a factor
5 occurs once as a factor
𝐿𝐶𝑀(6, 15) = 3 × 2 × 5 = 30 Write each factor the greatest number of
times that it occurs in any of the numbers
and multiply these factors to find the LCM.

Therefore, the LCD of 1/6 and 7/15 is 30. Rewriting the fractions using the
least common denominator would result to the following:
1 5 7 14
= =
6 30 15 30
1 5 7 2
× ×
6 5 15 2

Example 6: What is the LCD of 1/3, 1/21 and 1/56? Write the equivalent of the given
fractions using the LCD.

Solution:
3=3 3 occurs once as a factor
21 = 3 × 7 3 occurs once as a factor
7 occurs once as a factor
56 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 7 2 occurs thrice as a factor
7 occurs once as a factor
𝐿𝐶𝑀(3, 21, 56) Write each factor the greatest number of
times that it occurs in any of the numbers
= 3 × 7 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 168
and multiply these factors to find the LCM.
 Therefore, the LCD of 1/3, 1/21, and 1/56 is 168. Rewriting the fractions using
the least common denominator would result to the following:
1 56 1 8 1 3
= = =
3 168 21 168 56 168
1 56 1 8 1 3
× × ×
3 56 21 8 56 3

1.1.5 Operations on Fractions

1.1.5.1 Adding Fractions

To add similar fractions, add the numerators and copy the denominator. Reduce your answer
to simplest form.
Fundamental Rule:
𝑎 𝑏 𝑎+𝑏
+ =
𝑐 𝑐 𝑐

Example 7: Find the sum of 3/6 and 2/6.

Solution:
3 2 3+2
+ =
6 6 6
5
=
6

Example 8: Find the sum of 1/12 and 3/12.

Solution:
1 3 1+3
+ =
12 12 12
4
=
12
1
=
3
Example 9: Find the sum of 7/10 and 5/10.
Solution:
7 5 7+5
+ =
10 10 10
12
=
10
1
=1
5

The rule for adding fractions is applicable only if the fractions are similar. To add dissimilar
fractions, find their LCD and convert the given fractions to equivalent fractions using the LCD.
Then proceed to addition of similar fractions. Reduce your answer to simplest form.

Example 10: Find the sum of 5/12 and 7/14.

Solution: The LCM of 12 and 14 is 84.
5 7 35 42 5 7 35
+ = + × =
12 14 84 84 12 7 84
87
= 7 6 42
84 × =
3 14 6 84
=1
84

Example 11: Find the sum of 1/21 and 4/15.

Solution: The LCM of 21 and 15 is 105.
1 4 5 28 1 5 5
+ = + × =
21 15 105 105 21 5 105
33
= 4 7 28
105 × =
15 7 105
11
=
35

To add mixed fractions, it is often easier to follow this method:

 convert them to improper fractions
 then add them using addition of fractions
 then convert back to mixed fractions
Example 11: Find the sum of 2 1/4 and 5 3/8.
Solution:
1 3 9 43
2 +5 = +
4 8 4 8
18 43
= +
8 8
18 + 43
=
8
61
=
8
5
=7
8

Example 12: Find the sum of 10 5/6 and 7 3/21.

Solution:
5 3 65 150
10 + 7 = +
6 21 6 21
65 150 455 300
+ = +
6 21 42 42
755
=
42
41
= 17
42

1.1.5.2 Subtracting Fractions

To subtract similar fractions, subtract the numerators and copy the denominator. Reduce
your answer to simplest form.
Fundamental Rule:
𝑎 𝑏 𝑎−𝑏
− =
𝑐 𝑐 𝑐
Example 13: Find the difference of 7/9 and 3/9.
Solution:
7 3 7−3
− =
9 9 9
4
=
9

Example 14: Find the difference of 13/25 and 8/25.

Solution:
13 8 13 − 8
− =
25 25 25
5
=
25
1
=
5

The rule for subtracting fractions is applicable only if the fractions are similar. To subtract
dissimilar fractions, find their LCD and convert the given fractions to equivalent fractions
using the LCD. Then proceed to subtraction of similar fractions. Reduce your answer to
simplest form.

Example 15: Find the difference of 3/5 and 1/8.

Solution: The LCM of 5 and 8 is 40.
3 1 24 5 3 8 24
− = − × =
5 8 40 40 5 8 40
19
= 1 5 5
40 × =
8 5 40

Example 16: Find the difference of 8/12 and 1/5.

Solution: The LCM of 12 and 5 is 60.
8 1 40 12 8 5 40
− = − × =
12 5 60 60 12 5 60
28
= 1 12 12
60 × =
5 12 60
7
=
15
To subtract mixed fractions, follow the same method as in addition of mixed fractions, but
subtract instead of add.

Example 17: Find the sum of 15 3/4 and 8 5/6.

Solution:
3 5 63 53
15 − 8 = −
4 6 4 6
189 106
= −
12 12
189 − 106
=
12
83 11
= =6
12 12
1.1.5.3 Multiplying Fractions
To multiply two fractions, multiply the two numerators and multiply the two denominators.
Then simplify the resulting fraction.
Fundamental Rule:
𝑎 𝑐 𝑎𝑐
× =
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑑

Example 18: Find the product of 4/5 and 2/7.

Solution:
4 2 4×2 8
× = =
5 7 5 × 7 35

Example 19: Find the product 3 and 8/13.

Solution: To multiply a whole number by a fraction, remember that any number can be
written as a fraction with denominator 1. Thus, 3 can be written as 3/1. With
this, the fundamental rule for multiplying fractions can be applied.
8 3 8
3× = ×
13 1 13
3×8
=
1 × 13
24
=
13
11
=1
13
Example 20: Find the product 2 and 3 1/4.
Solution: To multiply a whole number with a mixed fraction, write the whole number as
a fraction and convert the mixed fraction to an improper fraction. Then,
proceed with multiplication.
1 2 13
2×3 = ×
4 1 4
2 × 13
=
1×4
26
=
4
1
=6
2

Example 21: Find the product 6 1/4 and 4 2/3.

Solution: To multiply mixed fractions, convert them first to improper fractions, then
proceed with multiplication.
1 2 25 14
6 ×4 = ×
4 3 4 3
350
=
12
1
= 29
6
1.1.5.4 Dividing Fractions
To divide two fractions, multiply the dividend by the reciprocal of the divisor. Simplify the
resulting fraction.
Fundamental Rule:
𝑎 𝑐 𝑎 𝑑 𝑎𝑑
÷ = × =
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏 𝑐 𝑏𝑐

Example 22: Find the quotient when 3/2 is divided by 11/10.

Solution:
3 11 3 10
÷ = ×
2 10 2 11
30
=
22
4
=1
11
Example 23: Find the quotient when 2 is divided by 1/10.
Solution: To divide a whole number with a fraction, rewrite the whole number as a
fraction, then proceed with division.
1 2 1
2÷ = ÷
10 1 11
2 11 22
× =
1 1 1
= 22

Example 24: Find the quotient when 5 is divided by 7 1/2.

Solution: To divide a whole number by a mixed fraction, rewrite the whole number as a
fraction and convert the mixed fraction to improper fraction. Then proceed
with division.
1 5 15
5÷7 = ÷
2 1 2
5 15 5 2
÷ = ×
1 2 1 15
10
=
15
2
=
3

Example 25: Find the quotient when 6 5/7 is divided by 2 3/4.

Solution: To divide mixed fractions, convert them to improper fractions then proceed
with division.
5 3 47 11
6 ÷2 = ÷
7 4 7 4
47 11 47 4
÷ = ×
7 4 7 11
188
=
77
34
=2
77