BASIC MATH TUTOR B-11

Fractions
When one whole number is divided by another whole and the result is not a third
whole number, the result is a fraction. Thus, when 2 is divided by 3, the result is not
a whole number. The result is the fraction 2 + 3, which is written f.
The number above the line in the fraction is called the numerator; the number
below the line is called the denominator. ·
In a proper fraction, the numerator is less than the denominator, so the fraction
t
has a value of less than 1, e.g., and l which �re both less than 1.
In an improper fract.ion, the liumerator is greater than the denominator, so the
J
fraction has a value greater than 1, e.g., and 1 are both greater than 1.
A míxed number consists of both a whole number and a fraction writt�n to­
t
gether, far example, 21, whích is equivalent to 2 + and 3t which ís·equivalent to
3+l

Working with Mixed Numbers and lmproper Fractions

Befare you add, subtract, multiply, or divide, you should ch¡nge mixed numbers to
improper fractions. To convert a mixed number to an ímproper fraction:

1. Use the denominator of the old fractional part of the mixed number as the
new denominator.
2. Multiply the whole number part of the mixed number by its denominator
and add to that product the numerator of the old fractional part. This is the
new numerator."This is more difficult to describe than it is to do. Take the.
mixed number 2r First, the denominator of your new fraction will be 7.
Next, multiply 7 by 2, which is 14. Then add 3 to that: 14 + 3 = l7. 17 is
the new numerator, and 7 is the denominator. So the result is 1f. In other
words:
MIXED NUMBER

...
14 +·3 a 17
0
3 NEW NUMERATOR 17
2 NEW DENOMINATOR
7

EXAMPLES:
3.!_
4
(3 X 4)
4
+ 1 = .!1
4
2 (6 X 5) + 2 32
6
5 5 = 5
2_!1 = ( 2 X 13) + 12 = 38
13 13 13
B-12 BASIC MATH TUTOR

To convert an improper fraction to a mixed number, you reverse .the process:

1. Divide the denominator into the numerator. The quotient becomes the whole
number part of the mixed number.
2. Using the same denominator, create a fraction the numerator of which is the
remainder of the division process in step one.

3
For example, to convert ° into a mixed number, first divide 7 into 30.
7
The result is 4 with a remainder of 2. The 4 is now the whole number part
of the mixed number. Next, the numerator of the fraction is the remainder
· 2, and the denominator is 7. So the result is 4i.

EXAMPLES:
9
� : 29 + 5 = 5 with a remainder of 4, so 5�.

� : 31 + 6 = 5 with a remainder of 1, so
l
si.,
;;: 43 + 13 = 3 with a remainder of 4, so 3 �.
1

Reducing Fractions

For reasons of convenience, it is customary to reduce all fractions to their lowest

terms. When you reduce a fraction to lowest terms, you really are doihg nothing but
rewritlng it in an equivalent form. This is accomplished by eliminating redundant
factors in both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction.

EXAMPLE:
8 1(8) 1
16 = 2(8) = 2
There _are various ways of describing what goes on when you reduce a fraction. You
might think of taking out a common factor, such as 8 in the example above, and
dividing 8 into 8 (or cancelling the 8s). lt's also possible to think of the process as
dividing both numerator and denominator by the same number:

8 = 8 + 8 =
1
16 16-:-8 2

lt doesn't really matter which way you would describe the process , so long as you
know how to reduce a fraction to its lowest terms.
A fraction is expressed in lowest terms when there is no number (other than 1)
that can be·evenly divided into both numerator and denominator; For example, is fs
in lowest terms, since there is no number (other than 1) that evenly goes into 8 that
fi
also evenly goes into 15. On the other hand, is not in lowest terms, since both 8
 BASICMATHTUTOR B-13

and 12 can be evenly divided by 4. lf you reduce -fi by a factor of 4, you get J,
which is in lowest terms since no number (other than 1) evenly divides both 2 and 3.

EXAMPLES:
12 1 X 12
36 = 3 X 12 =]
42 7 X 6 7
48 = 8 X 6 :==8
50 2 X 25 2
125 = 5 X 25 = 5

lf a fraction is particularly large, you may need to reduce it in steps. The process
is largely a matter of trial and error, but there are a couple of rules that can guide
you. ·Remember that if both numerator and denominator are even numbers, you can
reduce the fraction by a factor of 2.

EXAMPLE:
32 1 6(2) 8(2) 4(2) 2(2) 1
64 - 32(2) - 16(2) - 8(2) - 4(2) - 2

lf both the numerator and the denominator end in either O or 5, they are both divisi­
ble by S.

EXAMPLE:
55 11(5) 11
100 = 20(5) = 20

Common Denominators

A common denominator is a number that is a multiple of the denominators of two or

more fractions. For exatnple, 12 is a multiple of both 3 and 4 (both 3 and 4 divide
evenly into 12), so it is a suitable common denominator for f and ¡.
Converting a fraction to another denominator is the reverse of reducing it to
lowest terms.

EXAMPLES:
1 1 X 3 3
4 = 4X 3 = 12

When you multiply both the numerator and the denominator by the same number,
you are really just multiplying the fraction by 1 (1 = 1 ), so you don't change its value.
In the example above, how do we know to use 3? We want to convert a fraction
with a denominator of 4, so we ask the question, "What number, w�en multiplied by
4, yields the product 12 ?" The answer is found by dividing 12 by 4. Since 12 + 4
=
3, we know we must multiply 4 by 3 to get 12.
�14 BASIC MATH TUTOR

To take another example, by what number must you multiply the numerator and
denominator of the fraction? to get a fraction with a denominator of 30? Since 30 +
6 = 5, you must use 5:

5 5 X 5 25
6= 6 X 5 = 30
'
In grade school you were taught to find the lowest common denominator far
fractions. But in truth, any old common denominator will work. The easiest way to
find a common denominator is to multiply the two denominators you are working
with. Thus , a common denominator for 2 and 3 is 2 x 3, or 6; a common denomi­
nator for 3 and 4 is 3 x 4, or 12; a common denominator far 2 and 5 is 2 x 5, or 10.
What, then, was the big deal about lowest common denominators? lt's the same
as reducing fractions to lowest terms: it's easier to work with. Thus, a common
· denominator for 2 and 8 is 16, but 8 is also a possibility. And it's easier to deal with
a fraction of denominator 8 than 16.
In the final analysis, however, you can use any common denominator, because
you can always reduce a fraction to its lowest terms.

¡· Manipulating Fractions

l. Addition
The procedure for adding fractions varíes depending on whether or not the fractions
already share the same denominator. · ·
To add fractions with the same denominator, create a new fraction using that
denominator. The new numerator is the s.um of the old ·numerators.

EXAMPLES:
l+I=�
7 7 7
I + I = .i
5 5 5
.!. + � + l = �
7 7 7 7

lf you are adding a fraction and a mixed number, remember to change the mixed
number to an improper fraction and then add.

EXAMPLE:

2.!. + .!. = Z. + .!.

3 3 3 3
= !!3 = 2�3
 BASIC MATH TUTOR B'-15

To add fractions with different denominators, you must first find a common de­
nominator and convert the fractions in the manner described above. For example,
t
add and f.
Since these fractions have unlike denominators, you must find a
common denominator such as 15. Next , you convert each fraction to a fraction
with denominator of 15.

EXAMPLES:
1 1 _ 1(5) 1(3) _ 5 3 _ 8
+ + +
3 5-3(5) 5(3) 15 15 15
1 2 = 1(7) 2(3) _ 7 6 _ 13
+ + +
3 7 3(7) 7(3) 21 21 21
2 4 2(5) 4(9) 10 36 46
5 = 9(5)
+ + +
9 5(9) - 45 45 - 45

lf you are adding a fraction and a whole number, you can treat the whole num­
ber as a fraction with a denominator of 1 .

EXAMPLE:
.!. .!. _ � .!. .!. _ 2(10) 1(2) 1(5) = 20 l._ J__ = 27
2 + + + + +
5 2- 1+ 5 2 - 1(10) + 5(2) + 2(5) 10 10 10 10

2. Subtraction
You follow the same procedure for subtraction except that you subtract rather than
· add. When the fraé::tions have the same denominators, you simple subtract one
numerator from anóther.

EXAMPLES:
5 2 = 3
7-7 7
4 - -
- 3 -
1
5 5 =5

When you have fractions with different denominators, it's first netessary to find a
common denominator.

EXAMPLES:
7 3 7(5) 3(8) 35 24 11
8 5-8(5) 5(8) - 40 40 - 40
5 1 5(5) 1(6) 25 6 19
6 5 - 6(5) 5(6) - 30 30 - 30
2 _
7 _ 2_ 7 _ 2(6) _ 7 _ 12 _ 7 _ 5
6 1 6 1(6) 6 6 6 6
3-16 BASIC MATH TUTOR

A Shortcul
You don't need to worry about finding a lowest common denominator as long as you
remember to reduce the result of an operation to lowest terms. This sets up a little
trick for adding and subtracting fractions that makes the process a purely mechanical
one-one you don't even have to think about. The trick is called the "flying x."
To add (or subtract) any two fractions with 'unlike denominators:

1. Multiply the denominators to get a new denominator.

2. Multiply the numerator of the first fraction by the denominator of the second.
3. Multiply the numerator of the second fraction by the denominator of the
first.
4. The new numerator is the sum (or difference) of the results of steps 2 and 3.

Once again, it's more difficult to describe the process than it is to do it. . Perhaps the
easiest way to learn it is to see it done. let f and � be any two fractions (such as �
and f). Add them:

As you can see, the connecting arrows make a figure that looks like an x floating
above the ground, so we call it the "flying x."
The "flying x" does not guarantee that your result will be expressed in lowest
terms, but that's no problem as long as you remember to reduce your fraction.

EXAMPLE:

The "flying x" method also works for subtracting fractions. At step 4 (described
above), just subtract instead of adding.
\
EXAMPLES:
3· 1 3� .,,;,, 1 9 -5 4
5 3-5""""��3- 15 =15

6 5 6� .,,.,,, 5 36 - 35
7 - 6 = 7Y��6 42 = 42

Of comse, this may not give you the lowest terms of the fractions, so it may be
necessary to reduce.

EXAMPLE:

¡ - a - ¡""""��a = a
3 1 3� .,....,,1 24 - 4 20 ·5
32 = 32 =

In this case, although 32 is not the lowest common denominator, the result is the ·
same once � is reduced to f
 BASIC MA TH TUTOR B-17

3. Multiplication
Multiplication of fractions does not require.a common denominator . Or perhaps we
should say that multiplication produces a common denominator automatically. Tó
multiply fractions, just multiply numerators to create a new numerator, and multiply
denominators to create a new denominator.

EXAMPLES:
3
X 1 =--
3 -
- 3Xl
=-
4 5 4 X 5 20
l X � = 2 X 2 = .i_
3 5 3X5 15

4. Division
Division is the opposite of inultiplication. To divide by a fraction, you ihvert the
divisor (the fraction by which you are dividing) and then multiply.

EXAMPLE:
2 + .!_ = 2 X_±= Q =.8
4 1 1

You follow the same rule when you divide a fraction by another fraction.

EXAMPLES:
2
3 2
5
=3
12
x_s6 = 15 4
=5
6
1 5 1 6 6 2
3: 6-3 X S-15-5
2 2 2 2 1 2 1
: 2 - 7: 1 = 7X 2 = 14 = 7
7
1 1 1 2
5 -;- 2 = 5 X 2 t 5

3-;- 51 = 5 .
3X T = 15
B-18 .BASIC MATH TlJTOR

EXERCISE 2.
Fractions

3
1. 58 =

23 35 43
(A) 1
8 (C)
8
(D)
8 (E )
8
(B) �

3
2. 2- =
4
9
(A) l ·(C) -
4 4 4 4 4
(B) � (D) .!._!_ (E) _!i

1
3. 3-=
12
37 53
(A) Q (C) ±1_ (E) z.l
12 12 12 12 12
(8) (D)

1
4. 1- =
65
64 65 66 66 67
(A) (C)
.6 5 66 65
(8)
64 66
(D) (E)

2
5. 5- =
7
5 35 37 70 1 0-
(A) 14 (C) �
7 7 ( D)
7
(B) (E)

6 g=
. 8 '

(A) 4 (B) 3 (C) 2t (D) 1.! (E) 1.!.

2 4
20
7 =
. 6
(A) 31 (B) 3¡ (C) 4i (D) 4j" (E) 6

8.
23
13
=
7 7
(A) 10 (B) 7 (C) 1.!.Q (E) 13
13 13 (D) _!1
23
25
9 =
. 4
4 4
(A)
25 (B) (C) , .!. (D) 1.! 6i
8
(E)
12 4

201
10. =
100
1 1 1 1
(A) 1 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 2 (E) 1 O 1
100 50 100 50
 BASIC MATH TUTOR B-19 ·

. 3
11.
12 =
6 4 3 2 4
(A).!. (B) .!. (C).!. (O).!. (E)¿

27
12.
81 =
(A) .!. i
9 9 3 9 3
(B) � (C) .!. (O) (E)�

125
l3.
625
1 7
=
(B) .!. (D) 10 (E) 5i
10 5 5
(A) (C) �

39
14.
5 2 =
l (O) .!.
(A) .!.
5
(B) .!.
4 3 2 4
(C) (E)¿

121
15. 132
1 1 9
=
(A)
11 (B)
10
(C)
10
(O) .!.Q
11
(E) 12
.!..!.

16. � is equal to all of the following EXCEPT

6 15 31 33 120
(A) 16 (C) 81 88 E 3 20
40
(B) (O) ( )

17. i is equal to all of the following EXCEPT

20 3 6 300
(A) � . (B) _!l
8 16 24 48 400
·(C). (O ) (E)

18. 4 IS
. equa 1 to
25
2
CA) /s0 CD> ��� CE> ;��
ssci 1 �o co
(B)

19. t is equal to al.1 of the following EXCEPT

25 45 50 55 100
(A) (B) (C) (D) ( -)
30 so 6
0 66 E 120

20. ¡; is equal to all oí the íollowing EXCEPT

2 3 4 5 6
(A) 12 (B) 18 (O) ( E)
24 30 40
(C)

1 2
21. 7 + 7 =

(E) _!l
7 7 7 7 7
(A) � (B) ¿ (C) � (D) ·�

5 1
22. 8+8=
(A) .!. (C) ?_ Q5 i
2 4 8 3
(B) ¿ (O ) (E)
B-20 BASIC MATH TUTOR

12 12
23. 13 + 13 =

(A) O (8) 1 (C) � 24 26

(D ) (E)
26 13 13
3
24. 8 + 8 =
5

(A) i (8) (C) �·

· · 4
(D ) �
5
(E )
12
5
25· 1 + 2 + 11 =
7
11 11
4 7
(A) 11 (8) 11 (C) .!Q (D) .!_!
11 (E) .!_!
1O 7
3 5
26. 8 +
6
=
(A)
8
48
(8) 148 (C)
29
24
(D) �
2 (E) _!i
8
1 1
27. 8 +
7 =
1 1 1
(A)
56
(8)
27 (C) 15 (D) ..!.
5
(E)�
56
1 1
28. 12 +
7 =

(A) ..!_2 (8) .!2 20 .

84 (C) .!Q· (D)
42 19 19 (E) 4
�

3 .2
29· s +
11 =

43 43
(A) 110 ( B)
55
(C)
54
55 (D)
55
54
(E).
100
43
·1 1 1
30· 2 +
3 +
6 =
1 1
(A) (8) 12

'
36 (C) 1 (D) z_ (E) z_
6 3
2 3 4
31· 3 +
6 +
6 =

9
(A) (B) � (C) z_ (D) .!_!
20 7 6 6 (E)�
3
2 1
32. 3 - 3 =
(A) ..!.6 (8) ..!_
3 (C) � (O) i3 (E) §
3 3
5 4
33. 7 - 7 =

5 1 1
(A) ; (8) 1 (C) 7 (D) 7 (E )
49
9 1
34. 10 - 5 =
7 7
(A) 10 (8) 5 (C) .!Q 20
7 (D) z_ (E)
5 7
 BASIC MATH TUTOR B-21

3 1
35. 2 - =
¡
(A) 4. (B) i (C) l (E).!.
5
5 4 3 3
(D) �

1 7
36. 2- - - =
2 8

(A)� (B) � (C) .!l (E) '.!,

2 2 8 4 5
(D) �

2 1
37. 2- - 1- =
3 6

(A) 1i (B) 1.!. (C) 1.!. (D) 1� (E)2

3 2 3

1 2
38. l X}=

(A) .!. (B).!. (C) .!. ( E) l

6 3 2 3 4
(D) �

2 1
39. l X¡ =
1 1
(A)
63
(B) 14 (C) .!.
4
(D) Í ( E) �
9
1 1
40. } X }=

(A) .!. (B) .!. (C) .!. (E ) l

6 3 3 2
(D) �
9
1 1 1 ..
41. ·2 X2 X2 =
1 .
(A) (C) (D) l (E)�
3
16
(B) .!.8 16 8 3

2 3 4
42. } X 4 X S=

(A)� (B) l (C)� (D) l (E) i

5 5 3 4

1 1
43. - X -8 X 3 =
4
3
(,\) (B) .!. (C) .!. (D) .!. (E ) l
4
32 8 4 2

1 1
44. } X G X 12 =

(A) .!. (C) 1 l (E)2

3 2
(B) ·.?_
3
(D)

45. 8-;. =
7 3
¡
(A) ?._ (B) 1 (C) l (D) .!. (E) .!.
6 4 3 8

46.
5- -:- -71 =
(A) .!. (B) .!. (C) 5 (E) 12
5
(D) 7
Está mal porque la respuesta es 35
7
3-22 BASIC MATH TUTOR

47. 12 + 12 =
1 1

1 (C) 12 (E) 144

1
144

n
(A) (B) (O) 18

48. 2 + =
1
2 22 22
(A) 22 (B) 11 (C) .!_!. (O) .!_!. (E)

49. 9 + 8
8 7
=
64
(A)
63
(B) 27 9
(C) ?_ (O) l2 (E) l3
1 3
50. 10 + 5 =

(A) i (B) i (C) ,30 (D) i (E) i

51. {¡+i)x(�+!)=
(A) � (B) 1 (C) !
1 (D) 2 (E) 2�

52. ( ¡ i) t i)
+ X ( + =
33 1 5
(C) � (D) 77 · (E) 0
47 49 48 48 51
(A) � (B)

53. ( t i) ><
·
1
+ a X
. 8
¡) =
1 1 5
1
(A) 18 (B) 9 · (C) 9 (D) 8 . (E)
2
75

54. [(1 +·i) ·

X (¡ -
7
i)] 5
X 18 =
4 2
(A). 5 (B) B (C) (D) (E)
6 S 3
55. [(1 i) + X(¡+ i)] (i + �)
X =

(A) 5 (B) 4 (C) 3 (D) 2 (E) 1