Adding and Subtracting Mixed Numbers

Learning Objective — Spec Ref N2:

Be able to add and subtract mixed numbers.

There are two methods for adding and subtracting mixed numbers:
ƒƒ Change the mixed numbers into improper fractions (see p.29), then add or subtract
like on the previous page by getting them over a common denominator.
ƒƒ Add/subtract the number parts and the fraction parts separately, then add the results.
(You might be adding a negative fraction if the question was a subtraction.)
The second method is useful when the number part is large, but it can be a bit trickier when the fractions
go past a whole number — e.g. 2 5 - 1 5 fi 2 – 1 = 1, but 5 - 5 = - 5 , so the answer is 1 + b - 5 l = 5 .
2 4 2 4 2 2 3

So, if you’re not sure which method to use, it’s generally safer to use the improper fractions method.

Example 2
1 5
Find 1 3 + 2 6 by: a ) converting to improper fractions,
b) adding number parts and fraction parts separately.
a) 1. Write the mixed numbers 1 =3 1 = 3+1 = 4 2 = 12 5 = 12 + 5 = 17
as improper fractions. 1 3 , so 1 3 3 3 3 1 6 , so 2 6 6 6 6
×2
2. Rewrite the improper fractions 4 = 8 17
with a common denominator. 3 6 6
×2
3. Add the numerators. Give your answer
1 5 8 17 25 24 1 1
as a mixed number in its simplest form. 13 +26 = 6 + 6 = 6 = 6 + 6 = 46

b) 1. Add the number parts. 1+2=3

2. Add the fraction parts in the usual way.
1 +5 = 2+5 =7 =6+1 = 1
The result is an improper fraction, 3 6 6 6 6 6 6 16
so convert it to a mixed number.
1 1
3. Add the results. 3+16 = 46

Exercise 2
For Q1-2, work out the calculations, giving your answers as mixed numbers in their simplest form.
3 3 3 6 3 3 5 2
Q1 a) 2 8 + 4 b) 4 14 + 1 7 c) 1 5 + 4 d) 2 8 + 3
1 3 1 7 5 2 7 2
e) 3 5 + 2 7 f) 1 6 + 4 15 g) 2 11 + 3 3 h) 5 12 + 3 5

5 5 5 11 3 5 2 7
Q2 a) 4 12 - 2 6 b) 7 9 - 1 18 c) 3 4 - 7 d) 5 5 - 3 9
1 6 3 2 3 7 4 5
e) 2 4 - 1 7 f) 4 8 - 1 9 g) 5 20 - 1 12 h) 3 7 - 3 9

Q3 The table shows the number of pies eaten by 3 contestants Contestant 1 2 3

in a pie eating contest. Calculate the total number of pies 7 5 5
No. of pies eaten 17 8 9 12 40 18
eaten, as a mixed number in its simplest form.

32 Section 3 Fractions
3.5 Multiplying and Dividing by Fractions
Being able to multiply by fractions is really useful — especially as it lets you find fractions of amounts.
In order to divide by fractions, you need to be able to find the reciprocal of the fraction you’re dividing by.

Multiplying Whole Numbers by Fractions

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

Learning Objectives — Spec Ref N2/N12: Prior Knowledge Check:

| | | | | | | | |

||
| | | | | | | |
ƒƒ Be able to multiply whole numbers by fractions. Be able to simplify fractions (p.28) and convert between
ƒƒ Be able to find fractions of amounts. mixed numbers and improper fractions (p.29). |
|| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

To multiply a whole number by a fraction, multiply it by the numerator, and divide it by the denominator.
It doesn’t matter what order you do the multiplication and division in — sometimes it’s easier to do the
division first as it keeps the numbers smaller, but either way will give the same result.
If the number isn’t a multiple of the fraction’s denominator, then your final answer will be a fraction.
In this case, just multiply the number by the numerator of the fraction, write it over the denominator,
then simplify as much as possible.
2 2
Finding fractions of amounts is the same as multiplying — e.g. 3 of 60 is the same as 3 × 60.

Example 1
4
Calculate 21 × 7 .
1. You need to multiply by 4 and divide by 7. Tip: If you multiplied
4 first instead, you’d get:
Do the division first... 21 × 7 = (21 ÷ 7) × 4 (21 × 4) ÷ 7 = 84 ÷ 7 = 12
2. ...then multiply the answer by 4. = 3 × 4 = 12

Example 2
3
Find 4 of 18. Give your answer as a mixed number in its simplest form.
1. You can replace ‘of’ with a multiplication sign. 3 3
4 of 18 = 4 × 18
2. Since 18 isn’t a multiple of 4, do 3 × 18 3 3 × 18 54
and write this on the top of the fraction. 4 × 18 = 4 = 4
3. Simplify the fraction and convert to a mixed number. 54 27 26 + 1 1
4 = 2 = 2 = 13 2

Exercise 1
Q1 Find the following.
3 2 3 5
a) 28 × 4 b) 9 of 36 c) 8 × 48 d) 12 of 60
5 4 5 7
e) 6 × 24 f) 15 × 5 g) 6 of 54 h) 96 × 12

Q2 Work out the following. Write your answers as mixed numbers in their simplest form.
2 1 2 4
a) 48 × 7 b) 27 × 6 c) 32 × 3 d) 34 × 5
2 5 3 5
e) 80 × 9 f) 45 × 12 g) 72 × 11 h) 62 × 8

Section 3 Fractions 33
 Multiplying Fractions
Learning Objective — Spec Ref N2/N12:
Be able to multiply fractions together.

To multiply two or more fractions, multiply all the numerators together and all the denominators
together. If they’re mixed numbers, change them to improper fractions first (see p.29).
To make your calculations simpler when multiplying, you can cancel factors that appear in the numerator
and denominator of either fraction — so if a number in the numerator of one fraction shares a common
factor with the denominator of the other fraction, then you can divide both numbers by the factor first.

Example 3
7 15
Calculate 25 × 16 .
Tip: If you didn’t
1. 25 and 15 share a common 7 153 7 3 cancel down, you’d get
factor (5), so divide both by 5. 25 5 × 16 = 5 × 16 7 × 15 = 105
25 × 16 400 , which
21
2. Multiply the numerators together 7×3 21 then simplifies to 80 .
= 5 × 16 = 80
and the denominators together.

Example 4
1 3
Work out 4 2 × 3 5 . Give your answer as a mixed number in its simplest form.
1. Write the mixed numbers 1 8 1 9 3 15 3 18
42 = 2 + 2 = 2 35 = 5 + 5 = 5
as improper fractions.
2. Multiply the two fractions, 1 3 9 18 9 9 9 9 × 9 81
cancelling where possible. 4 2 × 3 5 = 2 1 × 5 = 1 × 5 = 1× 5 = 5

3. Finally, convert this into 81 80 1 1

a mixed number. 5 = 5 + 5 = 16 5

Exercise 2
Q1 Work out the following. Give your answers in their lowest terms.
3 1 5 2 5 3
a) 5 × 6 b) 6 × 15 c) 12 × 4

6 7 7 5 9 13
d) 7 × 8 e) 10 × 14 f) 13 × 9

Q2 Work out the following. Give your answers as mixed numbers in their lowest terms.
5 2 3 2 1 2
a) 1 6 × 3 b) 3 4 × 5 c) 2 7 × 9
11 1 3 4 4 3
d) 1 12 × 4 e) 4 5 × 5 f) 2 9 × 8
2 1 4 7 1 32
g) 2 5 × 3 6 h) 4 9 × 1 10 i) 5 13 × 1 33

34 Section 3 Fractions
Dividing by Fractions
Learning Objectives — Spec Ref N2/N12:
ƒƒ Be able to find the reciprocal of a number or fraction.
ƒƒ Be able to divide by fractions and mixed numbers.

The reciprocal of a number is just 1 ÷ that number. The reciprocal of a whole number is always
1
a unit fraction (a fraction with a numerator of 1) — e.g. the reciprocal of 4 is 4 .
1
Also, if a is the reciprocal of b, then b is the reciprocal of a — so the reciprocal of 4 is 4.

To find the reciprocal of a fraction, swap the numerator and denominator (i.e. turn it upside down) —
3 5
for example, the reciprocal of 5 is 3 . If it’s a mixed number, convert it to an improper fraction first.
1
Dividing by a number is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal (e.g. 6 ÷ 4 = 6 × 4 ).
So, to divide by a fraction, you can just turn the fraction upside down and change the ÷ into a ×.
Once you’ve got a multiplication, the method is exactly the same as on the previous page.

Example 5
1 6 2 1
Find: a) 4 ÷ 13 , b) 2 3 ÷ 1 5 as a mixed number in its lowest terms.
6
a) 1. Dividing by 13 is the same as multiplying by its reciprocal, 1 6 1 13
6
so flip the 13 upside down and change the ÷ into a ×. 4 ÷ 13 = 4 × 6
1 × 13 13
2. Now you can multiply the fractions as on p.34. = 4 × 6 = 24

b) 1. Write both numbers as improper fractions. 2 6+2 8 1 5+1 6

23 = 3 = 3 15 = 5 = 5
6 8 6 8 4 5 4 5 4 × 5 20
2. Flip the 5 upside down and change the ÷ into a ×. 3 ÷ 5 = 3 × 6 3= 3 × 3 = 3 × 3 = 9

3. Convert your answer into a mixed number. 20 18 + 2 2

9 = 9 = 29

Exercise 3
Q1 Find the reciprocal of the following, giving your answer as an improper fraction where appropriate.
1 7 3
a) 7 b) 11 c) 6 d) 26
11 3 2 2
e) 1 12 f) 2 4 g) 5 3 h) 4 7

Q2 Work out the following. Give your answers in their lowest terms.
4 1 2 1 2 2 3 9
a) 13 ÷ 3 b) 25 ÷ 5 c) 5 ÷ 3 d) 4 ÷ 10
5 11 2 3 15
e) 7 ÷ 14 f) 5 ÷ 3 g) 7 ÷ 6 h) 7 ÷ 2

Q3 Work out the following. Give your answers as mixed numbers in their lowest terms.
1 1 1 1 3 4
a) 2 2 ÷ 3 b) 1 6 ÷ 4 c) 2 7 ÷ 3 d) 4 9 ÷ 6
2 2 1 15 1 1 3 1
e) 3 ÷ 3 5 f) 4 6 ÷ 16 g) 1 4 ÷ 1 5 h) 3 10 ÷ 2 7

Section 3 Fractions 35