Adding and Subtracting Fractions Worksheets

Download your Free Adding and Subtracting (with Like and Unlike denominators) Worksheets

Free Adding and Subtracting Worksheets (with Like and Unlike Denominators)

Looking for free adding and subtracting fractions practice worksheets for extra learning opportunities and skill practice?

Below you will find links to download several adding and subtracting fractions worksheets organized by the following sub-topics:

Each adding and subtracting fractions worksheet can be downloaded as a PDF file that is easy to print and share. Each worksheet also includes a complete answer key on the last page.

You can download any of our free adding and subtracting fractions worksheet by clicking any of the blue text links below. You can also preview many of the worksheets by clicking on the image box.

Also, below the worksheets section, you will find a quick review of how to add and subtract fractions with like and unlike denominators that you can reference if you need some help with how to add and subtract fractions (especially when there are unlike denominators).

All of the free adding and subtracting fractions worksheets below are samples from the Mashup Math Topic-Specific Worksheet Libraries available on the Mashup Math website. | Quick Links: How to Download/Print

Adding and Subtracting Fractions Worksheets (Like Denominators)

Adding Fractions

Click Image to Preview

Subtracting Fractions

Click Image to Preview

Extended Practice

Click Image to Preview

 

Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators Worksheets

Subtracting Fractions with Unlike Denominators Worksheets

Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators

Click Image to Preview

Subtracting Fractions with Unlike Denominators

Click Image to Preview

Mixed Adding/Subtracting Fractions w/ Unlike Denominators

Click Image to Preview

 

Adding and Subtracting Mixed Numbers

Adding Mixed Numbers

Click Image to Preview

Subtracting Mixed Numbers

Click Image to Preview

Extended Practice

Click Image to Preview

 

🛑 WAIT! Do You Want More FREE Topic-Specific Worksheets with Answers?

Check out our Free Math Worksheets Library, where you will find hundreds of PDF math worksheets with complete answer keys for Grades K-9, Algebra, and Geometry!

 
 

Adding and Subtracting Fractions Worksheets Review

Whenever you are adding or subtracting fractions, the key is having both fractions having common denominators.

If both fractions share a common denominator, you can simply add/subtract the numerators together, keep the denominator as is, and simplify the result if possible.

For example, we could solve the problem: 1/4 + 2/4 as follows:

  • 1/4 + 2/4 = (1+2)/4 = 3/4

Notice that both fractions in the original problem shared a common denominator of 4. The result, 3/4, can not be simplified further, so we can conclude that the final answer is 3/4.

The steps for solving this example are illustrated in Figure 01 below.

 

Figure 01: Adding Fractions Worksheets Review

 

Similarly, consider the subtraction problem: 8/9 - 5/9:

  • 8/9 - 5/9 = (8-5)/4 = 3/9

Again, notice that both fractions have the same denominator (9). So, we can simply find the difference of the numerators, keep the denominator, and simplify the result if possible.

The result of 3/9 can, in this case, be simplified to 1/3, so we can conclude that:

  • 8/9 - 5/9 = 1/3

The steps for solving this subtraction example are illustrated in Figure 02 below.

 

Figure 02: Subtracting Fractions Worksheets Review

 

Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators Worksheets Review

Next, let’s review how to add fractions with unlike denominators.

Consider the example 1/3 + 1/4 = ?

Notice that these fractions do not share a common denominator (the first fraction has a denominator of 3 and the second fraction has a denominator of 4).

In order to solve this problem, you will have to rewrite the fractions so that they are equivalent to the original problem, but so that they both share a common denominator. You can do this by multiplying the denominator of the first fraction by the denominator of the second fraction vice versa (i.e. multiply the denominators together) as follows:

  • 1/3 + 1/4 (4x1)/(4x3) + (3x1)/(3x4) = 4/12 + 3/12

Now, you have a new problem to solve where the denominators are the same: 4/12 + 3/12, which you can solve as follows:

  • 4/12 + 3/12 = (4+3)/12 = 7/12

And, since 7/12 can not be simplified, we can conclude that:

  • 1/3 + 1/4 = 7/12

The steps for solving this example are illustrated in Figure 03 below.

 

Figure 03: Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators Worksheets Review

 

Subtracting Fractions with Unlike Denominators Worksheets Review

The process for subtracting fractions with unlike denominators is exactly the same as adding.

For example, let’s solve the problem: 1/2 - 3/7

Again, notice that these two fractions do not share a common denominator; however, we can rewrite these fractions with common denominators by multiplying the denominator of the first fraction by the denominator of the second fraction vice versa (i.e. multiply the denominators together) as follows:

  • 1/2 - 3/7 (1x7)/(2x7) - (3x2)/(7x2) = 7/14 - 6/14

Now we have new fractions that are equivalent to what we started with, but now the denominators are the same. So, we can solve this new problem as follows:

  • 7/14 - 6/14 = (7-6)/14 = 1/14

And, since 1/14 can not be simplified, we can conclude that:

  • 1/2 - 3/7 = 1/14

The steps for solving this example are illustrated in Figure 04 below.

 

Figure 04: Subtracting Fractions with Unlike Denominators Worksheets Review

 

If you need a more in-depth review of adding or subtracting fractions, click the links below to access our free step-by-step guides: