Adding Fractions

To model addition, place the fraction bars for the addends next to each other in the same row. Together, all the fraction bars represent the sum.

Then, if there is more than one type of fraction in the sum, use another row to find an equivalent fraction using only one type of fraction bar.

For example, to model

+

:

	In the first row, place three bars to show .
	On the same row, place a bar.
	The total length of the bars on the first row represents + .
	Use the second row to show the sum using just one type of bar.
	Since the LCD of the denominators is 12, use s bars
	When the thirteenth bar has been placed, the two rows are the same length.

This shows that

.