7th Grade Section
WME@Kimpton Middle

Fraction Addition

Think FractionsFractions are numbers, and they can be added together. The following experiment shows the adding of two fractions.

  1. A rectangle has been divided into 6 equal parts (their areas are equal) in a 2 × 3 grid. Click in the grid and see what happens.

     

    Observe how the red, green, and blue fractions change when you make clicks.

  2. First, make one cell blue, one cell red, and the rest green. Do you agree that the red area is 1/6 of the whole, and the blue area is 1/6 of the whole?

    Now click on the blue cell. It turns red. What does this tell you about adding 1/6 to 1/6?

      1  
    6
    		  +  
      1  
    6
    		  =  
            
    6

  3. Look at the red area. Is it 1/3 of the whole or not? Why? Is the following true or false?

      1  
    6
    		  +  
      1  
    6
    		  =  
      1      
    3    

  4. Make two blue cells, one red cell, and the rest green. Use this to help you visualize and answer this question.

      1  
    6
    		  +  
      2  
    6
    		  =  
            
    6

  5. Look at the area 3/6 represents. Is it 1/2 of the whole or not? Why? Is the following true or false?

      1  
    6
    		  +  
      2  
    6
    		  =  
      1      
    2