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4th grade

Course: 4th grade > Unit 8

Lesson 1: Decomposing fractions

Add and subtract fractions: FAQ

Frequently asked questions about adding and subtracting fractions.

What does it mean to decompose a fraction?

When we decompose a fraction, we break it down into smaller parts. This can help us understand the fraction better or make it easier to work with.

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What are mixed numbers and improper fractions?

A mixed number is a combination of a whole number and a fraction. For example, 2, start fraction, 1, divided by, 2, end fraction. An improper fraction is a fraction where the numerator is larger than the denominator. For example, start fraction, 5, divided by, 2, end fraction.

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Write mixed numbers and improper fractions

How do we add and subtract fractions with common denominators?

When we add fractions with common denominators, we keep the denominator the same and add the numerators together. For example, start fraction, 1, divided by, 4, end fraction, plus, start fraction, 2, divided by, 4, end fraction, equals, start fraction, 3, divided by, 4, end fraction.

When we subtract fractions with common denominators, we keep the denominator the same and subtract the numerators. For example, start fraction, 3, divided by, 4, end fraction, minus, start fraction, 2, divided by, 4, end fraction, equals, start fraction, 1, divided by, 4, end fraction.

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What are equivalent fractions?

Equivalent fractions are two or more fractions that have the same value. For example, start fraction, 1, divided by, 2, end fraction, start fraction, 2, divided by, 4, end fraction, and start fraction, 4, divided by, 8, end fraction are all equivalent fractions.

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What is a line plot?

A line plot is a graph that shows how many times each data point occurs. It's a good way to organize and analyze data.

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