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Adding and Subtracting Fractions with Like Denominators

When adding and subtracting fractions, the first thing to check is if thedenominatorsare the same.

If the denominators are the same, then it's pretty easy: just add or subtract thenumerators, and write the result over the same denominator.

$\frac{2}{13}+\frac{5}{13}=\frac{7}{13}$

$\frac{4}{5}-\frac{1}{5}=\frac{3}{5}$

You may get an answer which is not inlowest terms, even if the fractions you were adding and subtracting both were. In this case, you have toreduce the fraction.

$\frac{5}{12}+\frac{1}{12}=\frac{6}{12}=\frac{6÷6}{12÷6}=\frac{1}{2}$