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Da VIP Academy / GED / Math / Number Sense & Operations

Fractions

Compare, add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions and mixed numbers.

Practice this skillAll Math skills

How it works

Same denominator to add or subtract

Rewrite both fractions over a common denominator, then add or subtract only the numerators. 2/3 + 1/4 becomes 8/12 + 3/12 = 11/12.

Multiply straight across, divide by flipping

Multiplying needs no common denominator: 3/5 × 2/7 = 6/35. To divide, flip the second fraction and multiply: 3/4 ÷ 2/3 = 3/4 × 3/2 = 9/8.

Worked examples

  1. A recipe needs 5/8 cup of oats per batch. How many cups for 56 batches?

    1. 5/8 × 56 = 5 × 56 ÷ 8.
    2. 56 ÷ 8 = 7, then 5 × 7 = 35.
    3. Answer: 35 cups.

Words to know

Numerator
The top number — how many parts you have.
Reciprocal
A fraction flipped upside down, used to divide.

Test-day tips

  • • "Of" almost always means multiply.
  • • Simplify before multiplying when you can — it keeps the numbers small.
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