Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators Anchor Chart | Free Printable

Hey! Do you ever think if you have two-fourths of a book in one week and then one-fourths of that book in another week, how much of that book did you read? Or, have you ever thought if you have one-fifth of a pizza and your sister has two-thirds of that pizza, how much pizza do you have together? In these types of real-life problems, the addition of fractions is required. In this article, I will show adding fractions with unlike denominators anchor chart.

Visual aids called anchor charts are frequently utilized in educational contexts, especially in classrooms. Teachers and students work together to produce these big, vibrant posters, which are intended to aid pupils in remembering key ideas and facts.

The visual representations of key concepts, vocabulary terms, and other information that students need to understand in order to master a particular subject or skill are generally included in anchor charts. Moreover, they might contain images like diagrams, examples, or other graphics to help explain more complicated concepts. In this article, I will use adding fractions with unlike denominators anchor chart to show the adding fractions with unlike denominators.

         

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Fractions: Definition and Fraction Vocabularies

A fraction in mathematics is a portion of a whole or a ratio of two numbers. The numerator and denominator are written one number above the other, separated by a horizontal line. Like other numbers, fractions can be added, subtracted, multiplied, and divided using a variety of mathematical operations.

The main two parts of a fraction are the numerator and the denominator. The numerator and denominator of a fraction are the numbers above and below the fraction line, respectively.

For instance, the numerator of the fraction 3/5 is 3, suggesting that three equal parts are being taken from the whole or that three parts are being evaluated.

The total number of equally sized components that make up the whole is shown as the denominator.

For instance, the denominator of the fraction 3/5 is 5, which means that the entire is divided into five equal pieces.

Particular fractions are also called different names like- halves, thirds, fourths, sixths, etc.

         

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How to Create an Addition of Fractions with Unlike Denominators Anchor Chart

An anchor chart is a visual representation of a topic that makes the topic easily representable to the students in a classroom. In this article, we target on adding fractions with unlike denominators anchor chart to show the steps of the operation.

Steps:

• First, find the least common denominator and rewrite the fractions.
• Add the numerators.
• Get the sum of the addition.
• Simplify the fraction if possible.

           

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Step, Details, and Elements of a Good Fraction Anchor Chart

When creating a fraction anchor chart, it is important to follow the following steps and use the elements.

Step 1: Choose a title that accurately reflects the content of the anchor chart.

Step 2: Introduce the concept of fractions and define key terms.

Step 3: Include visual representations of fractions such as pie charts, number lines, or fraction bars.

Step 4: Provide examples of how to compare fractions using visual models and common denominators.

Step 5: Include examples of adding and subtracting fractions with common and different denominators.

Step 6: Provide examples of multiplying and dividing fractions and explain how to simplify fractions.

Step 7: Include practice problems that reinforce the concepts covered in the anchor chart.

Step 8: Summarize the key concepts covered in the anchor chart.

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4 Interesting Examples to Add Fractions with Unlike Denominators Anchor Chart

This article will provide you with 4 interesting examples of adding fractions with unlike denominators anchor chart. This is an effective procedure to teach children basic mathematical operations using anchor charts. Follow the examples one by one and you will get a clear idea about anchor charts to add fractions.

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Common Denominator Method to Add Fractions with Unlike Denominators Anchor Chart

This example is quite interesting. Follow the step-by-step procedure given below.

Steps:

• First, extract the denominators from the fractions:
• Then find the Least Common Multiples (LCM) of them.
• After that, find the equivalent fraction of that two fractions. The denominators will be the as same as the LCM.
• Add the Fractions then.

Example: ¼ + ⅔ = ?

Solution: Here the denominators are 4 and 3.

The multiples of 4 are 4, 8, 10, 12, 16…

The multiples of 3 are 3, 9, 12, 18…

So the LCM is 12.

To get the same denominator, you need to multiply the numerator 1 by 3 and 2 by 4.

So the fractions are 3/12 and 8/12. Now, add the fractions. The sum will be 11/12.

         

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Butterfly Method to Add Fractions with Unlike Denominators Anchor Chart

This is an easy method. I am going to show an example here. Simply follow the steps shown in the example.

Problem: ⅙+⅗ =?

Solution:

• In the following picture, you can see a butterfly-like structure. In the orange ellipse, you can see 1 and 5 and in the purple one, the numbers are 6 and 3.
• Now, multiply the denominator first. You will get 30 as the product of 6 and 5.
• Then, multiply 1 and 5 and get 5 as the product written on the left side of the butterfly.
• After that, multiply 6 and 3 and get 18 as the product written on the right side of the butterfly.
• The denominators of 5 and 18 are 30 and 30.
• Now add 5/30 and 18/30. The sum will be 23/30.

         

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Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators Anchor Chart Using Area Method

This is also a funny and colorful method. Follow the steps of the example.

Problem: ⅓+¼=?

Solution:

• First, draw two rectangles here. The first rectangle will be a visual representation of ⅓ and the second one will be ¼. So, the first rectangle will be segmented into three parts vertically (one part will be colored as the numerator is one), and the second one will be segmented into four parts horizontally (one part will be colored as the numerator is one).
• Now, divide the first box horizontally into the same units as 2nd box and divide the 2nd box vertically just like the 1st one.
• Then, count the shaded units. This will represent the numerator of the sum and the total number of segments of one box will be the denominator. Here the denominator is 12 and the numerator is 7. So the sum is 7/12.

         

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Using Equivalent Fraction

Here, I will find the equivalent fraction first from the LCM and then make a summation of the fractions with unlike denominators.

Problem: ¾+⅙=?

Solution:

Multiples of 4: 4, 8, 12, 16…

Multiples of 6: 6, 12, 18, 24…

So, the LCM is 12.

The denominator for both fractions is 12.

So the numerators will be multiplied with 3 and 2 for 1st and 2nd fractions respectively.

Now, equivalent fractions are 9/12 and 2/12. So the summation will be = 9/12+2/12 = 11/12.

         

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Adding Fractions with Like & Unlike Denominators Anchor Chart

I have described the addition of fractions with unlike denominators in the previous part of this article.

This part of the article is for that eager kiddos who want to know more about adding fractions with like denominators anchor charts.

Follow the steps of the solutions in the following example.

Problem: ¼ + 2/4 =?

Solution:

Here, the LCM of the denominators is 4.

Now simply add the numerators here.

You will get the summation = 1+2 = 3.

So the summation will be ¾.

           

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Adding and Subtracting Fraction with Unlike Denominators Anchor Chart

I have described the steps of adding fractions with unlike denominators in the former examples. Here I am going to show a new anchor chart to make a solution of subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. Follow the following solution to the problem.

Problem: ¼-⅙ =?

Solution:

Multiples of 4: 4, 8, 12, 16…

Multiples of 6: 6, 12, 18, 24…

So, the LCM is 12.

Get the equivalent fraction of ¼ = 3/12 by multiplying 1 and 4 with 3.

Then, get the equivalent fraction of ⅙  = 2/12 by multiplying 1 and 6 with 2.

Now, subtract the fractions: 3/12 – 2/12 = 1/12. So the result of the subtraction = 1/12.

         

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Download the Free PDF

In this whole article, I have shown different examples of adding fractions with unlike denominators anchor chart. I have shown the common denominator method, Butterfly method, area method, and equivalent fraction method for adding fractions with unlike denominators anchor chart. I hope you will get interest in all the examples. For enthusiast students, adding fractions with like denominators and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators anchor chart is shown. Download the following free pdf to get the anchor charts.

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