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Fraction’s Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication And Division

Last updated on Jul 14, 2026
Author Rupinder Kaur
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Topics: Fractions

The previous chapter Fractions Types, Representation With Diagrams And Conversions discusses what a fraction is and what the various types of fractions are. This chapter will explore the methods with examples to do the arithmetic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division on fractions.

Addition of fractions

With same denominators (Like fractions)

To add like fractions, only numerators are added and keep the value of denominator as it is.

Examples of addition of like fractions

Add 5 8 and 6 8

As the denominator is 8 and add numerator of both fractions only

= 5 8 + 6 8

= 5 + 6 8 = 11 8


Add 1 4 , 2 4 , 6 4

Here, the denominator is 4 for all fractions, so add numerators of all fractions only.

= 1 4 + 2 4 + 6 4

= 1 + 2 + 6 4 = 9 4

With different denominators (Unlike fractions)

To add unlike fractions, convert unlike fractions into like fractions by taking LCM of their denominators.

Examples of addition of unlike fractions

Add 3 4 , 5 6

Step 1: Take LCM of denominators of fractions 3 4 and 5 6

LCM of 4 and 6

Step 2: Multiply both fractions numerator and denominators by the same numbers such that the denominators become equal to LCM 12.

3 4 × 3 3 = 9 12

5 6 × 2 2 = 10 12

Step 3: Add the like fractions 9 12 and 10 12

= 9 12 + 10 12

= 9 + 10 12 = 19 12

3 4 + 5 6 = 19 12


Add 2 3 , 4 6 , 1 4

Step 1: Take LCM of denominators of fractions 2 3 , 4 6 and 1 4

LCM of 3, 6 and 4

Step 2: Multiply numerators and denominators of all fractions by the same numbers such that their denominators become equal to LCM 12.

2 3 × 4 4 = 8 12

4 6 × 2 2 = 8 12

1 4 × 3 3 = 3 12

Step 3: Add the like fractions 8 12 , 8 12 and 3 12

= 8 12 + 8 12 + 3 12

= 8 + 8 + 3 12 = 19 12

2 3 + 4 6 + 1 4 = 19 12

Subtraction of fractions

With same denominator (Like fractions)

In subtraction of like fractions, only numerators are subtracted and the values of the denominator do not change.

Examples of subtraction of like fractions

Subtract 8 9 from 10 9

As these are like fractions with their same denominators of 9.

So, subtract numerator of both fractions only.

10 9 - 8 9

10 - 8 9 = 2 9


Subtract 11 12 from 15 12

Here, the two fractions are like fractions and their denominator is 12.

So, subtract numerators of both fractions only.

= 15 12 - 11 12

15 - 11 12 = 4 12

= 1 3

With different denominators (Unlike fractions)

To subtract the unlike fractions, convert unlike fractions into like fractions by taking LCM of their denominators.

Examples of subtraction of unlike fractions

Subtract 6 4 from 8 3

Step 1: Take LCM of denominators of fractions.

LCM of 4 and 3

LCM of 4 and 3 is 12

Step 2: Convert unlike fractions into like fractions by multiplying a number which makes denominators equal to LCM 12.

8 3 × 4 4 = 32 12

6 4 × 3 3 = 18 12

Step 3: Subtract 18 12 from 32 12

= 32 12 - 18 12

= 32 - 18 12 = 14 12

8 3 - 6 4 = 14 12 = 7 6

Multiplication of fractions

With whole number

To multiply a fraction with the whole number, multiply only the numerator by the given whole number and keep the denominator same. Then reduce it to its lowest term.

Examples of multiplication of fractions with whole number

7 5 × 2

Here, 7 5 is a fraction and 2 is a whole number.

2 is written as 2 1

= 7 5 × 2 1

= 7 × 2 5 × 1 = 14 5


6 5 × 4

= 6 5 × 4 1

= 6 × 4 5 × 1 = 24 5

A fraction by fraction

To multiply a fraction by another fraction, multiply their corresponding numerators and denominators. Then reduce the obtained fraction into its lowest form.

Examples of multiplication of fraction with fraction

Multiply fraction 7 5 by 3 4

Here, multiply numerators 7 and 3. Also, multiply their denominators 5 and 4.

7 5 × 3 4

= 7 × 3 5 × 4 = 21 20


Multiply fractions 2 5 , 4 6 , 3 2

2 5 × 4 6 × 3 2

multiply numerators 2, 4 and 3 and also multiply denominators 5, 6 and 2.

= 2 × 4 × 3 5 × 6 × 2 = 24 60

Now 24 60 should be reduced to its lowest term by dividing with the common factor 12.

24 60 = 2 5

Division of fractions

To divide a fraction with another fraction, first the division is changed into multiplication by changing the division sign into multiplication and taking reciprocal of the second fraction.

Examples of division of fractions

Divide 2 3 by 5 7

= 2 3 ÷ 5 7

= 2 3 × 7 5

= 2 × 7 3 × 5 = 14 15


Divide fraction 4 5 by whole number 6

= 4 5 ÷ 6 1

= 4 5 × 1 6

= 4 × 1 5 × 6 = 4 30

4 30 should be reduced into its the lowest term by dividing with common factor 2

= 2 15


Divide 5 by 6 7

= 5 ÷ 6 7

= 5 × 7 1 × 6 = 35 6

Learn Frequently Asked Questions

How to add fractions?

  • Step I: Add the numerator of fractions.
  • Step II: Keep the value of the common denominator as it is.
  • Step III: Calculate Value of fraction = Sum of all numerators Value of common denominator

How to add unlike fractions?

  • Step I: Convert the unlike fractions into like fractions by taking LCM of all denominators.
  • Step II: Add the numerator of each equivalent fraction.
  • Step III: Calculate Value of fraction = Sum of numerators Denominator of equivalent fractions

How to subtract like fractions?

  • Step I: Subtract the numerator of each fraction.
  • Step II: Keep the value of the common denominator as it is.
  • Step III: Calculate Value of fraction = Difference of all numerators Value of common denominator

How to subtract unlike fractions?

  • Step I: Convert the unlike fractions into like fractions by taking LCM of all denominators.
  • Step II: Subtract the numerator of each equivalent fraction.
  • Step III: Calculate Value of fraction = Difference of all numerators Denominator of equivalent fractions

Practice With Solved Examples

Add 1 4 , 7 4 , 11 4

Add only numerators of all fractions, because their denominators are the same.

= 1 + 7 + 11 4 = 19 4


Add 3 4 , 5 3 , 9 2

Here, denominators of all fractions are different.

So, first take LCM of all denominators.

LCM of 4, 3 and 2

LCM of 4, 3 and 2 is 12.

Now, make denominators of all fractions equal to 12.

3 4 × 3 3 = 9 12

5 3 × 4 4 = 20 12

9 2 × 6 6 = 54 12

Add the fractions with same denominator of 12

= 9 12 + 20 12 + 54 12

= 9 + 20 + 54 12 = 83 12


Simplify the fraction 5 3 + 3 4 - 3 2

Take LCM of all denominators 3, 4 and 2.

Factorization of 3, 4 and 2 with LCM 12

LCM of 3, 4 and 2 = 12

Multiply numerators and denominators with a number to make their denominators equal to 12.

5 3 × 4 4 = 20 12

3 4 × 3 3 = 9 12

3 2 × 6 6 = 18 12

∴ the given fractions 5 3 + 3 4 - 3 2 can be written as

= 20 12 + 9 12 - 18 12

= 20 + 9 - 18 12

= 29 - 18 12

= 11 12


Solve 3 2 - 2 1 3 - 2 1 5

= 3 2 - 7 3 - 11 5

Take LCM of all denominators 2, 3 and 5.

LCM of 2, 3 and 5

LCM of 2, 3 and 5= 30

Make denominators of all fractions equal to 30.

3 2 × 15 15 = 45 30

7 3 × 10 10 = 70 30

11 5 × 6 6 = 66 30

3 2 - 2 1 3 - 2 1 5 can be written as

= 45 30 - 70 30 - 66 30

= 45 - 70 - 66 30

= 45 - 136 30

= -91 30


Solve the following

3 4 × 1 2

= 3 × 1 4 × 2

= 3 8


2 1 5 × 2 1 7

= 11 5 × 15 7

= 11 1 × 3 7

= 33 7

= 4 5 7


Simplify the following

3 7 ÷ 7 3

= 3 7 × 3 7

= 9 49


1 2 3 ÷ 3 1 2

= 5 3 ÷ 7 2

= 5 3 × 2 7

= 10 21

Fill in Blanks Worksheet

  1. 5 8 + 6 8 = ___
  2. 3 4 - 2 4 = ___
  3. 7 4 - 3 4 = ___
  4. 4 8 × 1 4 = ___
  5. 9 2 + 1 2 = ___
  6. 6 5 × 30 6 = ___
  7. 9 3 × 1 = ___
  8. 4 3 ÷ 1 = ___
  9. 21 4 ÷ 3 4 = ___
  10. 6 8 + 7 8 - 1 8 = ___
Help box
7
32
14
5
43
118
1
18
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Blanks PDF worksheet
32 KB

Multiple Choice Questions Worksheet

1) Choose the correct option for the sum of 4 3 and 1 3 is
  1. 5 3
  2. 6 3
  3. 7 3
  4. 4 3
2) Sum of 9 5 and 0 is
  1. 0
  2. 9 5
  3. 14 5
  4. 45 5
3) 17 3 × 0 is
  1. 1 3
  2. 7 3
  3. 17 3
  4. 0
4) The value of 5 2 ÷ 2 is
  1. 5 4
  2. 5
  3. 2
  4. 4 5
5) 7 4 - 3 4 gives
  1. 1
  2. 3 4
  3. 7 4
  4. 7
6) 5 7 ÷ 25 49 is
  1. 5 7
  2. 25 49
  3. 2
  4. 7 5
7) The reciprocal of 6 5 is
  1. 6 5
  2. 5 6
  3. 5
  4. 6
8) A man covered 3 8 metre on bicycle and 3 4 metre by car. The total distance covered by man is
  1. 7 8 metre
  2. 36 12 metre
  3. 9 8 metre
  4. 6 12 metre
9) 0 1 × 3 4 gives
  1. 3 4
  2. 4 3
  3. 1
  4. 0
10) 1 5 ÷ 1 5 gives
  1. 1
  2. 5
  3. 1 5
  4. 1 25
MCQ PDF worksheet
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MCQs Answer Keys

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