LIKE AND UNLIKE FRACTIONS DEFINITION

Definition of Like Fractions

The fractions which are having the same denominator are called as like fractions.

Example :

⅗, ⁶⁄₅, ⅖, ⁷⁄₅

In all the above fractions, the denominator is same. That is 5.

Definition of Unlike Fractions

The fractions which are having different denominators are called as unlike fractions.

Example :

⅗, ⁶⁄₇, ²⁄₉, ⁷⁄₂

In the above fractions, denominators are different. They are 5, 7, 9 and 2.

The above said stuff is clearly illustrated in the picture shown below.

When students want to identify the like fractions and unlike fractions, they have to do a simple work.

That is, they just have to look at the denominators (bottom numbers) of the fractions.

If they are same, they can say that they are like fractions.

In case the denominators are different, they can say that they are unlike fractions.

Adding and Subtracting Fractions

We can understand the difference between like fractions and unlike fractions from the definitions explained above. 

The difference between like fractions and unlike fractions will play a key role in adding and subtracting of fractions.

Additition or Subtraction of Two Like Fractions

We have to follow the steps given below to add or subtract two like fractions.

Step 1 :

When two fractions with the same denominator are added or subtracted, take the denominator once.

Step 2 :

Now, add or subtract the numerators and simplify the resulting fraction, if required.

Example :

Find the value of :

⅕ + ⅖

Solution :

= ⅕ + ⅖

The given two fractions have the same denominator. That is 5.

So, take the denominator once and add the numerators.

= ⁽¹ ⁺ ²⁾⁄₅

= ⅗

Additition or Subtraction of Two Unlike Fractions

We can use one of the following methods to add or subtract two fractions with unlike denominators.

1. Cross-Multiplication method

2. LCM (Least Common Multiple) Method.

Example :

Let us consider the addition of two fractions given below.

⅛ + ⅓

In the above two fractions, denominators are 8 and 3.

For 8 and 3, there is no common divisor other than 1.

So 8 and 3 are co-prime.

Here, we have to apply cross-multiplication method to add the two fractions 1/8 and 1/3 as shown below.

Example :

Let us consider the addition of two unlike fractions given below.

⁵⁄₁₂ + ¹⁄₂₀

In the above two fractions, denominators are 12 and 20.

For 12 and 20, if there is at least one common divisor other than 1, then 12 and 20 are not co-prime.

For 12 and 20, we have the following common divisors other than 1.

2 and 4

So 12 and 20 are not co-prime.

In the next step, we have to find the LCM (Least common multiple) of 12 and 20.

12 = 2² x 3

20 = 2² x 5

When we decompose 12 and 20 into prime fractors, we find 2, 3 and 5 as prime factors for 12 and 20.

To get the least vcommon multiple of 12 and 20, we have to take 2, 3 and 5 with maximum powers found above.

So, the least common multiple of 12 and 20 is

= 2² x 3 x 5

= 4 x 3 x 5

= 60

Now, make the denominators of both the fractions as 60 using multiplication.

In (⁵⁄₁₂ + ¹⁄₂₀), to make each denominator as 60, multiply the numerator and denominator of the first fraction by 5 and the second by 3.

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