Adding fractions · Year 6

In Year 6 you learn: adding fractions with different denominators.

You can only add fractions when the pieces are the same size, so the denominators must match. If they don’t, change the fractions to equivalent fractions with a common denominator first, then add the numerators.

Key facts

• Same denominator: add or subtract the tops. The bottom stays the same.
• Different denominators: first change both to a common denominator (the lowest common multiple is easiest). Then add or subtract.
• Never add the bottoms: 1/2 + 1/3 is not 2/5.
• If the answer is an improper fraction, you can write it as a mixed number: 19/12 = 1 7/12.
• Simplify the answer at the end.

Worked examples

Other years

• Adding fractions · Year 4
• Adding fractions · Year 5
• Adding fractions · Year 7
• Adding fractions · Year 8