Adding Fractions Same Denominator

When two fractions have the same denominator (the bottom number), adding them is easy: just add the numerators (the top numbers) and keep the denominator the same. 1/4 + 2/4 = 3/4. The denominator tells you what size pieces you have; the numerator tells you how many pieces.

A fraction like 3/4 means 3 pieces out of 4 equal parts. When both fractions use the same denominator, the pieces are the same size. You just count them all together. 2/5 + 1/5 = 3/5. Notice the denominator (5) did not change. Only the top changed because you have more pieces now.

Pizza: if you eat 2/8 of a pizza and then eat 3/8 more, you ate 5/8 total. Candy bar: 1/6 + 4/6 = 5/6. Time: 1/3 hour + 1/3 hour = 2/3 hour. Watch the denominators — they must match before you add. If one is 1/4 and the other is 1/3, you cannot add directly; you would need a common denominator first.

What if the sum becomes bigger than the denominator? 4/5 + 3/5 = 7/5. That is called an improper fraction. It means you have more than 1 whole. 7/5 is the same as 1 and 2/5 (one full thing plus 2/5 of another). You can leave it as 7/5 or convert to a mixed number.