Add Mixed Numbers
| Site: | Saylor University |
| Course: | [CB DRAFT] MA006: Foundations of Real World Math |
| Book: | Add Mixed Numbers |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 4:20 PM |
Description
buttons.Add and Subtract Mixed Numbers
Add Mixed Numbers
Modeling with fraction circles helps illustrate the process for adding mixed numbers: We add the whole numbers and add the fractions, and then we simplify the result, if possible.
HOW TO
Add mixed numbers with a common denominator.
Step 1. Add the whole numbers.
Step 2. Add the fractions.
Step 3. Simplify, if possible.
In Example 4.83, the sum of the fractions was a proper fraction. Now we will work through an example where the sum is an improper fraction.
An alternate method for adding mixed numbers is to convert the mixed numbers to improper fractions and then add the improper fractions. This method is usually written horizontally.
Table 4.2 compares the two methods of addition, using the expression \(3 \dfrac{2}{5}+6 \dfrac{4}{5}\) as an example. Which way do you prefer?
| Mixed Numbers | Improper Fractions |
|---|---|
\[ \begin{gathered} 3 \dfrac{2}{5} \\ +6 \dfrac{4}{5} \\ \hline 9 \dfrac{6}{5} \\ 9+\dfrac{6}{5} \\ 9+1 \dfrac{1}{5} \\ 10 \dfrac{1}{5} \end{gathered} \] |
\[ \begin{gathered} 3 \dfrac{2}{5}+6 \dfrac{4}{5} \\ \dfrac{17}{5}+\dfrac{34}{5} \\ \dfrac{51}{5} \\ 10 \dfrac{1}{5} \end{gathered} \] |
Table 4.2
Source: Rice University, https://openstax.org/books/prealgebra/pages/4-6-add-and-subtract-mixed-numbers
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Examples
EXAMPLE 4.83
Add: \(3 \dfrac{4}{9}+2 \dfrac{2}{9}\).
EXAMPLE 4.84
Find the sum: \(9 \dfrac{5}{9}+5 \dfrac{7}{9}\).
EXAMPLE 4.85
Add by converting the mixed numbers to improper fractions: \(3 \dfrac{7}{8}+4 \dfrac{3}{8}\).
Answers
Example 4.83
| \[ \begin{array}{r} 3 \dfrac{4}{9} \\ +2 \dfrac{2}{9} \\ \hline 5 \end{array} \] |
|
| Add the whole numbers. | \[ \begin{array}{r} 3 \dfrac{4}{9} \\ +2 \dfrac{2}{9} \\ \hline 5 \end{array} \] |
| Add the fractions. | \[ \begin{array}{r} 3 \dfrac{4}{9} \\ +2 \dfrac{2}{9} \\ \hline 5 \dfrac{6}{9} \end{array} \] |
| Simplify the fraction. | \[ \begin{array}{r} 3 \dfrac{4}{9} \\ +2 \dfrac{2}{9} \\ \hline \qquad 5 \dfrac{6}{9}=5 \dfrac{2}{3} \end{array} \] |
Example 4.84
| \(9 \dfrac{5}{9}+5 \dfrac{7}{9}\) | |
| Add the whole numbers and then add the fractions. | \( \begin{array}{r} 9 \dfrac{5}{9} \\ +5 \dfrac{7}{9} \\ \hline 14 \dfrac{12}{9} \end{array} \) |
| Rewrite \(\dfrac{12}{9}\) as an improper fraction. | \(14+1 \dfrac{3}{9}\) |
| Add. | \(15 \dfrac{3}{9}\) |
| Simplify. | \(15 \dfrac{1}{3}\) |
Example 4.85
| \(3 \dfrac{7}{8}+4 \dfrac{3}{8}\) | |
| Convert to improper fractions. | \(\dfrac{31}{8}+\dfrac{35}{8}\) |
| Add the fractions. | \(\dfrac{31+35}{8}\) |
| Simplify the numerator. | \(\dfrac{66}{8}\) |
| Rewrite as a mixed number. | \(8 \dfrac{2}{8}\) |
| Simplify the fraction. | \(8 \dfrac{1}{4}\) |
Since the problem was given in mixed number form, we will write the sum as a mixed number.