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Centro de aprendizaje / Aritmética y números

Fractions: simplifying, adding, multiplying and dividing

What a fraction means, how to simplify one, and the four operations — with a common denominator only when you need it.

1 min de lecturaActualizado el 18 de octubre de 2026Por Sumzo teamRevisado por Sumzo team

A fraction ab\frac{a}{b} means aa parts out of bb equal parts. The top number is the numerator and the bottom number is the denominator.

Equivalent fractions and simplifying

Multiplying or dividing the top and bottom by the same number gives an equal fraction: 12=24=36\frac{1}{2} = \frac{2}{4} = \frac{3}{6}. To simplify, divide both by their greatest common divisor (GCD).

1824=18÷624÷6=34\frac{18}{24} = \frac{18 \div 6}{24 \div 6} = \frac{3}{4}
The GCD of 18 and 24 is 6.

Adding and subtracting

You can only add or subtract fractions with the same denominator. Rewrite both over a common denominator — the least common multiple (LCM) of the denominators keeps the numbers small — then combine the numerators.

Ejemplo resuelto

Add 12+13\frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{3}

Find 12+13\frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{3}.

Mostrar el procedimiento
  1. The LCM of 2 and 3 is 6, so rewrite both fractions in sixths.
    12=36,13=26\frac{1}{2} = \frac{3}{6},\quad \frac{1}{3} = \frac{2}{6}
  2. Add the numerators and keep the denominator.
    36+26=56\frac{3}{6} + \frac{2}{6} = \frac{5}{6}

Respuesta: 56\frac{5}{6}

Comprobado por el motor matemático de Sumzo

Multiplying and dividing

Multiply straight across: numerator times numerator, denominator times denominator. To divide, multiply by the reciprocal (flip the second fraction).

ab×cd=acbd,ab÷cd=ab×dc\frac{a}{b} \times \frac{c}{d} = \frac{ac}{bd},\qquad \frac{a}{b} \div \frac{c}{d} = \frac{a}{b} \times \frac{d}{c}

Ejemplo resuelto

Divide 23÷49\frac{2}{3} \div \frac{4}{9}

Find 23÷49\frac{2}{3} \div \frac{4}{9}.

Mostrar el procedimiento
  1. Flip the second fraction and multiply.
    23×94=1812\frac{2}{3} \times \frac{9}{4} = \frac{18}{12}
  2. Simplify by dividing top and bottom by 6.
    1812=32\frac{18}{12} = \frac{3}{2}

Respuesta: 32\frac{3}{2} (or 1121\tfrac{1}{2})

Comprobado por el motor matemático de Sumzo

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