Add and Subtract Fractions with Unrelated Denominators

In this activity, we will be learning how to add and subtract fractions which have different denominators. 

Before we add or subtract fractions, they need to have the same denominators by using lowest common multiples.

We can't subtract these fractions until they have the same denominators:

We look for the smallest number that 9 and 3 go into.

This will be 9, so we change both fractions into 9ths.

(Note that the first fraction is already in 9ths, so it won't need to be changed.)

We multiply top and bottom of 2/3  by 3:

So we now have:

The answer is:

Now let's try an example question together.

Example

Work out the following, remembering to give your answer in its lowest terms.

Answer

The lowest common multiple of 15 and 30 is 30, because 2 × 15 = 30.

We multiply top and bottom of 7/15  by 2.

So we now have:

This gives:

But this must be reduced to its simplest form by dividing top and bottom by 2.

The answer is:

Now it's your turn to try some questions like this yourself.