Adding and Subtracting Fractions Worksheets

Adding and subtracting fractions worksheets with both operations mixed on the same sheet, so students have to read each sign before they start. The sheet below uses unlike denominators. Choose like denominators for a first sheet, mixed numbers for a harder one, or change how many problems are addition and how many are subtraction. Every answer key shows the working.

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Mixed practiceAdding & subtractingMultiplying & dividingConverting & simplifyingEquivalent & comparing

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Mixed practice

Add & subtractAdd & subtract mixedMultiply & divide

Adding & subtracting

Add, likeAdd, unlikeAdd mixed numbersSubtract, likeSubtract, unlikeSubtract mixed numbers

Multiplying & dividing

MultiplyMultiply by a wholeMultiply mixed numbersDivideDivide with wholesDivide mixed numbers

Converting & simplifying

Improper to mixedMixed to improperSimplifySimplify improper

Equivalent & comparing

Equivalent fractionsCompare, unlikeCompare, like

Adding and subtracting fractions. Both on one sheet, unlike denominators.Adding and subtracting mixed numbers. Both on one sheet, with mixed numbers.Multiplying and dividing fractions. Both on one sheet.Adding fractions, like denominators. Add the tops, keep the bottom.Adding fractions, unlike denominators. Find the least common denominator, then add.Adding mixed numbers. Make them improper fractions first, then add.Subtracting fractions, like denominators. Subtract the tops, keep the bottom.Subtracting fractions, unlike denominators. Find a common denominator, then subtract.Subtracting mixed numbers. Improper fractions first, so no borrowing.Multiplying fractions. Cross-cancel, then multiply straight across.Multiplying fractions by whole numbers. Write the whole number over 1, then multiply.Multiplying mixed numbers. Improper fractions first, then cross-cancel.Dividing fractions. Keep, change, flip, then multiply.Dividing fractions and whole numbers. The whole number goes over 1 before it flips.Dividing mixed numbers. Improper fractions first, then keep, change, flip.Improper fractions to mixed numbers. Divide, then put the remainder over the denominator.Mixed numbers to improper fractions. Whole times denominator, plus the numerator.Simplifying fractions. Divide top and bottom by the greatest common factor.Simplifying improper fractions. Reduce, then write it as a mixed number.Equivalent fractions. Find the missing number that keeps them equal.Comparing fractions, unlike denominators. Greater than, less than, or equal to.Comparing fractions, like denominators. Same denominators: compare the tops.

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The problems

Kind of sheetAdding fractionsSubtracting fractionsMultiplying fractionsDividing fractionsAdding and subtractingMultiplying and dividingImproper fractions to mixed numbersMixed numbers to improper fractionsSimplifying fractionsEquivalent fractionsComparing fractions

Adding vs subtracting 50% / 50%At half and half, never more than three of one in a row.

NumbersProper fractionsImproper fractionsMixed numbersA fraction and a whole number

DenominatorsThe same in each problemDifferent — one a multiple of the otherDifferent — any two

Which denominatorsA rangeChosen ones

to

Answers as mixed numbers New problems

The sheet

How many problemsUp to 40, if they fit.

ColumnsFewer columns leave more room to write each answer.

Answer keyShow the working on the keyEach step on the problem's own line, the way the fraction calculator works it.

Different versionsUp to 8, each with different problems and its own key.

Title and instructions

TitleLeft empty, the sheet is titled "Adding and Subtracting Fractions — Unlike Denominators", as the printed fraction sheets are.

Instructions

The page

Margin

incm

Name line Border DadsWorksheets logo at the foot

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Adding and subtracting fractions · proper fractions · different denominators · denominators 2–12 · 10 problems · with worked answer key · name line · border · logo

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Adding and subtracting fractions · proper fractions · different denominators · denominators 2–12 · 10 problems · with worked answer key · name line · border · logoUS Letter · print at 100%

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Adding and Subtracting with Like Denominators

When the denominators are the same, add or subtract the numerators and keep the denominator: 5/8 + 2/8 = 7/8, and 5/8 − 2/8 = 3/8. Then reduce the answer if it can be reduced, and write an improper answer as a mixed number.

Adding and Subtracting with Unlike Denominators

When the denominators are different, rewrite both fractions over the least common denominator first. For 2/3 + 1/4, the least common denominator is 12, so 2/3 becomes (2 × 4)/(3 × 4) = 8/12 and 1/4 becomes (1 × 3)/(4 × 3) = 3/12. Now the denominators match: 8/12 + 3/12 = 11/12. Subtraction works the same way: 2/3 − 1/4 = 8/12 − 3/12 = 5/12.

The answer keys show exactly these steps, naming the common denominator and showing the number each fraction was multiplied by, so a wrong answer can be traced to the step where it went wrong.

Mixed Numbers

For mixed numbers, turn each one into an improper fraction first: 2 1/3 is (2 × 3) + 1 = 7 thirds, or 7/3. Then add or subtract as above and turn the answer back into a mixed number. Working with improper fractions means a subtraction never needs borrowing, which is where most mixed-number mistakes happen.

Where to Go Next

For one operation at a time, see adding fractions and subtracting fractions. To check any answer step by step, use the fraction calculator, which works problems the same way these keys do.

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