We present examples on how to use the rules of fractions to simplify expressions including fractions. Questions and their solutions with detailed explanations are also included.
Fractions are some of the most important concepts in mathematics and therefore must be very well understood. Students need to have strong skills related to operations on fractions such as adding, dividing, equivalent fractions, ... . The skills discussed here gives you the much needed basics in dealing with fraction in numerical form as well as fractions with variables.
There are rules and definitions, the idea is to go through them in the order that they are presented and understand each one before you move to the next one.
In order to develop strong skills in fractions, there rules and any other rules on fractions, are to be fully understood and used to practice on more examples and questions for a long as you are studying mathematics.

1. Numerator and Denominator of a Fraction
   A fraction is written in the form \[ {\Large \dfrac{a}{b}} \] where \( a \) and \( b \) are integers. \( a \) is called the numerator and \( b \) the denominator which can never be equal to zero.
   
   
   
   
2. The Denominator of a Fraction is Never Equal to Zero
   These fractions are undefined because their denominators are equal to zero and are therefore NOT allowed in mathematics.
   
   \( \quad \ccancel[red]{\dfrac{2}{0}} \) , \( \ccancel[red]{\dfrac{0}{0}} \) , \( \ccancel[red]{\dfrac{1000000}{0}} \)
   
   
   
   
3. The Numerator of a Fraction May be Equal to Zero
   Any fraction whose numerator is equal to zero is itself equal to zero as long as its denominator is not equal to zero.
   
   \( \quad \dfrac{0}{3} = 0 \) , \( \dfrac{0}{100000} = 0 \) , \( \dfrac{0}{-8} = 0 \)
   
   The fraction \( \ccancel[red]{\dfrac{0}{0}} \) is undefined because its denominator is equal to zero.
   
   
   
   
4. A Fraction with Denominator Equal to 1 Simplies to an Integer
   Any fraction whose denominator is equal to 1 may be written as an integer
   
   \( \quad \dfrac{4}{1} = 4 \) , \( \dfrac{9}{1} = 9 \) , \( \dfrac{2x}{1} = 2x \)
   
   
   
   
5. A Fraction with Denominator Equal its Numerator
   Any fraction whose denominator is equal to its denominator simplifies to 1
   
   \( \quad \dfrac{6}{6} = 1 \) , \( \dfrac{3x}{3x} = 1 \) for \( x \ne 0 \)
   
   
   
   
6. Equivalent Fractions
   Two fractions \( \dfrac{a}{b} \) and \( \dfrac{c}{d} \) are equivalent and may be written as \( \dfrac{a}{b} = \dfrac{c}{d} \) if and only if \( \quad a \times d = b \times c\)
   
   Example
   a) The two fractions \( \dfrac{\color{blue}2}{\color{brown}5} \) and \( \dfrac{\color{red}6}{15} \) are equivalent because \( \quad \color{blue}2 \times 15 = 30\) and \( \color{brown}5 \times \color{red}6 = 30\) and therefore \( \color{blue}2 \times 15 = \color{brown}5 \times \color{red}6 \)
   
   b) The two fractions \( \dfrac{\color{blue}{2x}}{\color{brown}3} \) and \( \dfrac{\color{red}4x}{6} \) are equivalent because \( \quad \color{blue}{2x} \times 6 = 12x\) and \( \color{brown}3 \times \color{red}{4x} = 12 x \) and therefore \( \color{blue}{2x} \times 6 = \color{brown}3 \times \color{red}{4x} \)
   
   
   
   
7. How to Make Equivalent Fractions by Mulitplication
   You can make equivalent fractions by multiplying the numerator and denominator of the given fraction by the same number \( k \) , \( k \ne 0 \):
   \( \quad \dfrac{a}{b} = \dfrac{a\color{red}{\times k}}{b \color{red} {\times k}} \)
   There are many ways to write equivalent fractions by multiplication depending on the values of \( k \).
   
   Example
   a) \( \quad \dfrac{3}{7} = \dfrac{3 \color{red}{\times 5}}{7 \color{red}{\times 5} } = \dfrac{15}{35} \)
   
   b) \( \quad \dfrac{2}{3} = \dfrac{2 \color{red}{\times 2x}}{3 \color{red}{\times 2x} } = \dfrac{4x}{6x} \) for \( x \ne 0\)
   
   
   
   
8. How to Make Equivalent Fractions by Division
   You can make equivalent fractions by dividing the numerator and denominator of the given fraction by the same number \( k \) , \( k \ne 0 \):
   \( \quad \dfrac{a}{b} = \dfrac{a \color{red}{\div k}}{b \color{red}{\div k}} \)
   
   Example
   a) \( \quad \dfrac{8}{12} = \dfrac{8 \color{red}{\div 4}}{12 \color{red}{\div 4} } = \dfrac{2}{3} \)
   
   b) \( \quad \dfrac{x}{14x} = \dfrac{x \color{red}{\div x}}{14x \color{red}{\div x} } = \dfrac{1}{14} \) for \( x \ne 0\)
   
   
   
   
9. Reciprocal of a Fraction
   The reciprocal of a fraction \( \dfrac{a}{b} \) is equal to \( \quad \color{red}{ \dfrac{b}{a} } \) for \( a \ne 0 \).
   Note: The product of the fraction \( \dfrac{a}{b} \) and its reciprocal \( \color{red}{ \dfrac{b}{a} } \) is equal to 1.
   \[ \dfrac{a}{b} \times \color{red}{ \dfrac{b}{a} } = 1 \]
   Note: The reciprocal of a fraction whose denominator is equal to zero is undefined.
   
   Example
   a) The reciprocal of \( \dfrac{7}{9} \) is \( \dfrac{9}{7} \)
   
   and \( \dfrac{7}{9} \times \dfrac{9}{7} = \dfrac{7 \times 9}{9 \times 7} = \dfrac{63}{63} = 1\)
   
   b) The reciprocal of \( \dfrac{0}{7} \) is undefined because the numeartor of the given fraction is equal to zero.
   
   c) The reciprocal of \( \dfrac{x}{2} \) is \( \dfrac{2}{x} \) , for \( x \ne 0 \)
   
   and \( \dfrac{x}{2} \times \dfrac{2}{x} = \dfrac{x \times 2}{2 \times x} = \dfrac{2x}{2x} = 1\)
   
   
   
   
10. Write an Integer as a Fraction
    Any integer \( a \) may be written as a fraction as follows:
    \( \quad a = \dfrac{a \color{red}{\times k}}{ \color{red}k} \) for any integer \( k \ne 0\)
    There are many ways to write an integer as a fraction
    
    Example
    a) \( \quad 3 = \dfrac{3 \times 1}{1} = \dfrac{3}{1} \)
    
    b) \( \quad 3 = \dfrac{3 \times 4}{4} = \dfrac{12}{4} \)
    
    c) \( \quad 5 = \dfrac{5 \times x}{x} = \dfrac{5x}{x} \) for \( x \ne 0 \)
    
    
    
    
11. Write a Decimal Number as a Fraction
    A decimal number \( a \) may be written as a fraction by first writing it as a division by 1 and then mutliply the top and bottom of the division by a multiple of 10 such that the decimal number becomes an integer.
    
    
    Example
    a) \( \quad 0.1 = \dfrac{0.1 }{1} = \dfrac{0.1 \times 10}{1 \times 10 } = \dfrac{1}{10} \)
    
    b) \( \quad 2.09 = \dfrac{2.09 }{1} = \dfrac{2.09 \times 100 }{1 \times 100} = \dfrac{209}{100}\)
    
    c) \( \quad 0.0137 = \dfrac{0.0137}{1} = \dfrac{0.0137 \times 10000}{1 \times 10000} = \dfrac{137}{10000} \)
    
    
    
    
12. Add Fractions
    a) Add Fractions with Common Denominators
    We add fractions with common denominators by keeping the common denominator and adding the numerators as follows:
    \( \quad \dfrac{a}{c} + \dfrac{b}{c} = \dfrac{ \color{red}{a+b}}{c}\)
    Example
    \( \quad \dfrac{2}{8} + \dfrac{1}{8} = \dfrac{2+1}{8} = \dfrac{3}{8} \)
    
    b) Add Fractions with Different Denominators
    We add fractions with different denominators by first writing the two fractions to add with a common denominator then add them.
    \( \quad \dfrac{a}{\color{red} c} + \dfrac{b}{\color{blue} d} = \dfrac{a}{c} \color{blue}{ \times \dfrac{d}{d}} + \dfrac{b}{d} \color{red}{ \times \dfrac{c}{c}} \)
    
    \( = \dfrac{a \times d}{c \times d} + \dfrac{b \times c}{d \times c} = \dfrac{a \times d + b \times c}{c\times d} \)
    Example
    \( \quad \dfrac{2}{3} + \dfrac{1}{5} \)
    
    \( = \dfrac{2}{3} \color{red}{ \times \dfrac{5}{5}} + \dfrac{1}{5} \color{red}{ \times \dfrac{3}{3}} \)
    
    \( = \quad \dfrac{2 \times 5 + 1 \times 3 }{3 \times 5} = \dfrac{13}{15}\)
    
    
    
    
13. Subtract Fractions
    a) Subtract Fractions with Common Denominators
    We subtract fractions with common denominators by keeping the common denominator and subtracting the numerator as follows:
    \( \quad \dfrac{a}{c} - \dfrac{b}{c} = \dfrac{ \color{red}{ a - b}}{c}\)
    Example
    \( \quad \dfrac{11}{7} - \dfrac{6}{7} = \dfrac{11-6}{7} = \dfrac{5}{7} \)
    
    b) Subtract Fractions with Different Denominator
    We subtract fractions with different denominators by first writing the two fractions to subtract with a common denominator and then subtract them.
    \( \quad \dfrac{a}{\color{red}c} - \dfrac{b}{ \color{blue} d} = \dfrac{a}{c} \color{blue}{ \times \dfrac{d}{d}} - \dfrac{b}{d} \color{red}{ \times \dfrac{c}{c} } \)
    
    \( = \dfrac{a \times d}{c \times d} - \dfrac{b \times c}{d \times c} = \dfrac{a \times d - b \times c}{c\times d} \)
    Example
    \( \quad \dfrac{4}{3} - \dfrac{2}{5} \)
    
    \( = \dfrac{4}{3} \color{red}{ \times \dfrac{5}{5}} - \dfrac{2}{5} \color{red}{ \times \dfrac{3}{3} } \)
    
    \( \quad =\dfrac{20}{15} - \dfrac{6}{15} = \dfrac{14}{15} \)
    
    
    
    
14. Multiply Fractions
    We multiply fractions by multiplying numerator by numerator and denominator by denominator as follows:
    \( \quad \dfrac{a}{b} \times \dfrac{c}{d} = \dfrac{\color{red}{a \times c}}{\color{red}{b \times d}}\)
    Example
    \( \quad \dfrac{2}{5} \times \dfrac{4}{7} = \dfrac{2 \times 4}{5 \times 7} = \dfrac{8}{35} \)
    
    
    
    
15. Divide Fractions
    We divide fractions by mutliplying the first fraction by the reciprocal of the second fraction as follows:
    \( \quad \dfrac{a}{b} \div \dfrac{c}{d} = \dfrac{a}{b} \color{red}{ \times \dfrac{d}{c}} \)
    Example
    \( \quad \dfrac{7}{2} \div \dfrac{2}{5} = \dfrac{7}{2} \color{red}{\times \dfrac{5}{2}} = \dfrac{7 \times 5}{2 \times 2} = \dfrac{35}{4} \)
    
    
    
    
16. Add a Number and a Fraction
    We add a number and a fraction by rewriting the number as a fraction with common denominator then add as follows.
    \( \quad a + \dfrac{b}{c} = \color{red} {a \times \dfrac{c}{c}} + \dfrac{b}{c} = \dfrac{a c }{c} + \dfrac{b}{c} = \dfrac{a c + b}{c} \)
    Example
    \( \quad 2 + \dfrac{3}{4} = \color{red} {2 \times \dfrac{4}{4}} + \dfrac{3}{4} \)
    
    \( \quad \quad = \dfrac{2 \times 4 }{4} + \dfrac{3}{4} = \dfrac{8}{4} + \dfrac{3}{4} \)
    
    \( \quad \quad \quad = \dfrac{8 + 3}{4} = \dfrac{11}{4} \)
    
    
    
    
17. Multiply a Number by a Fraction
    We multiply a number by a fraction by rewriting the number as a fraction then multiply as follows .
    \( \quad a \times \dfrac{b}{c} = \color{red}{ \dfrac{a}{1}} \times \dfrac{b}{c} = \dfrac{a b}{c} \)
    Example
    \( \quad 7 \times \dfrac{2}{5} = \color{red}{ \dfrac{7}{1} } \times \dfrac{2}{5} = \dfrac{7 \times 2}{1 \times 5} = \dfrac{14}{5} \)
    
    
    
    
18. Divide a Number by a Fraction
    We divide a number by a fraction by first rewriting the number as a fraction then divide as follows .
    \( \quad a \div \dfrac{b}{c} = \color{red}{ \dfrac{a}{1} } \div \dfrac{b}{c} = \dfrac{a}{1} \times \dfrac{c}{b} = \dfrac{a c}{b} \)
    
    Example
    \( \quad 2 \div \dfrac{3}{11} = \color{red}{ \dfrac{2}{1}} \times \dfrac{11}{3} = \dfrac{2 \times 11}{1 \times 3} = \dfrac{22}{3} \)
    
    
    
    
19. Divide a Fraction by a Number
    We divide a fraction by a number by first rewriting the number as a fraction then divide as follows .
    \( \quad \dfrac{a}{b} \div c = \dfrac{a}{b} \div \color{red}{ \dfrac{c}{1}} = \dfrac{a}{b} \times \dfrac{1}{c} = \dfrac{a}{b c} \)
    
    Example
    \( \quad \dfrac{2}{7} \div 3 = \dfrac{2}{7} \div \color{red}{ \dfrac{3}{1} } = \dfrac{2}{7} \times \dfrac{1}{3} = \dfrac{2}{21} \)
    
    
    
    
20. Signed Fractions
    Signed fractions may be written in any of the following forms:
    a)
    \( \quad - \dfrac{a}{b} = \dfrac{- a}{b} = \dfrac{a}{-b} \)
    
    Example
    \( \quad - \dfrac{5}{12} = \dfrac{-5}{12} = \dfrac{5}{-12} \)
    
    b)
    \( \quad \dfrac{ - a}{ - b} = \dfrac{a}{b} \)
    
    Example
    \( \quad \dfrac{-2}{-7} = \dfrac{2}{7} \)

Questions

1. Write the follwoing as a single fraction and reduce it to lowest terms if possible. Solutions are included.
   
   
   1. ) \( \dfrac{0}{3} + \dfrac{1}{3} \)
      
      
   2. ) \( \dfrac{2}{0} + 5 \)
      
      
   3. ) \( \dfrac{3}{5} + 2 \)
      
      
   4. ) \( \dfrac{3}{2} + 2.1 \)
      
      
   5. ) \( 0.1 x + \dfrac{2x}{3}\)
      
      
   6. ) \( 3 x + \dfrac{x}{4} \)
      
      
   7. ) \( 3x - \dfrac{5 x}{4} \)
      
      
   8. ) \( \dfrac{3}{5} \times \dfrac{4}{9} \)
      
      
   9. ) \( 6 \times \dfrac{3}{7} \)
      
      
   10. ) \( \dfrac{2x}{5} \times \dfrac{1}{2} \)
       
       
   11. ) \( \dfrac{6}{7} \div 3 \)
       
       
   12. ) \( x \div \dfrac{1}{9} \)
       
       
   13. ) \( \dfrac{2x}{5} \div \dfrac{1}{9} \)
       
       
   14. ) \( - \dfrac{-3}{5} + \dfrac{-3}{5} \)
       
       
   15. ) \( \dfrac{2}{-9} + \dfrac{7}{9} \)
       
       
   16. ) \( \dfrac{-5}{-2} - \dfrac{7}{2} \)
       
       
   17. ) \( \dfrac{-2x}{3} - \dfrac{ - 5x}{- 3} \)
       
       
   18. ) \( 2 - \dfrac{ 4 + \dfrac{1}{3}}{1+\dfrac{1}{2}} \)
       
       
   19. ) \( x - \dfrac{ 2x + \dfrac{x}{2}}{x - \dfrac{2x}{3}} \)

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