In this activity, we will practise adding and subtracting fractions.
You may be able to count on or back in fractions mentally.
We can also use number lines to help us to solve the problems by counting on or counting back.
Let’s take a look at this number line to try an addition problem.
3/5 + 3/5 = 6/5
6/5 is an improper fraction.
We can also write this as 1 and 1/5.
This is a mixed number.
To add fractions with the same denominator, we just count on.
Now let’s try a subtraction problem.
1 2/5 – 4/5 = ?
Using the number line, we can see that 1 and 2/5 is the same as 7/5.
7/5 – 4/5 = 3/5
To subtract fractions with the same denominator, we just count back.
You can draw out a number line if it helps you to answer the questions in this activity, but why not try doing them mentally instead and see how you get on?
