Grade 6 Fractions: Adding, Subtracting, and Simplifying

Grade 6 Fractions

Adding and Subtracting Fractions

Adding and subtracting fractions involve combining two or more fractions to get a new fraction. In grade 6, students learn to add and subtract fractions with the same denominator. To add or subtract fractions, students need to follow these steps:

1. Find the common denominator: Determine the lowest common multiple (LCM) of the denominators of the fractions.
2. Rewrite each fraction as an equivalent fraction: Divide the numerator of each fraction by the common denominator and then multiply the result by the denominator.
3. Add or subtract the numerators: Add or subtract the numerators of the fractions.
4. Write the result as a fraction: Write the sum or difference of the numerators over the common denominator.

For example, to add 1/2 and 1/4, we need to find the common denominator, which is 4. Then, we rewrite each fraction as an equivalent fraction:

• 1/2 becomes 2/4
• 1/4 becomes 4/4

Now, we add the numerators: 2/4 + 4/4 = 6/4. This is equivalent to 3/2.

Improper Fractions

An improper fraction is a fraction where the numerator is greater than or equal to the denominator. Improper fractions can be represented as a whole number plus a proper fraction or as a mixed number.

For example, 5/4 is an improper fraction. It can be represented as 1 1/4 or 6/4.

Simplifying Fractions

Simplifying fractions involves finding the simplest form of a fraction by dividing both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common factor (GCF). This process reduces the fraction to its simplest form, which is called the simplified fraction.

For example, to simplify 6/8, we divide both the numerator and denominator by their GCF, which is 2:

• 6/8 becomes 3/4

Proper Fractions

A proper fraction is a fraction where the numerator is less than the denominator. Proper fractions represent a part of a whole that is less than 1.

For example, 1/2 is a proper fraction, as the numerator (1) is less than the denominator (2).

Drawing Fractions

Drawing fractions helps students visualize and understand the concept of fractions. To draw a fraction, follow these steps:

1. Draw a rectangle: This represents the whole.
2. Shade a part of the rectangle: The size of the shaded area represents the fraction.
3. Label the fraction: Write the fraction above the shaded area, with the numerator representing the number of equal parts in the shaded area and the denominator representing the total number of equal parts in the rectangle.

For example, to draw 1/2, shade half of the rectangle and label it 1/2.

Parts of a Fraction

The parts of a fraction include the numerator, denominator, and the fraction bar. The numerator represents the number of equal parts of the whole, while the denominator represents the total number of equal parts in the whole. The fraction bar separates the numerator from the denominator and represents the division of the whole into equal parts.

For example, in the fraction 3/4, the numerator 3 represents three equal parts of the whole, and the denominator 4 represents four equal parts of the whole. The fraction bar separates the numerator from the denominator, indicating the division of the whole into four equal parts.