Natalie E. answered • 10/02/19
Elementary/Special Ed Certified Teacher, Specialized in Reading
Hi there! One simple way to add a whole number and a fraction is to make the whole number into a fraction with the same denominator as the fraction you are adding it to. For example, if your whole number is 3 and your fraction is 1/4, you can make the whole number 3 into 3/1 (a fraction).
Now that you have two fractions, you have to make sure they have a common denominator in order to add them together. Since 1 goes into 4 you can keep your common denominator as 4! You multiply the numerator and denominator in 1/4 by one (since you're keeping the denominator as 4). (1X1=1 and 4X1=4). That fraction will stay the same. Next, you change the fraction 3/1 to have a denominator of 4. You need the denominator to be 4 (so that it's common) so you will multiply the numerator and denominator by 4. 3X4= 12 and 1X4= 4. Your new fraction is 12/4. Now you can add the fractions 12/4 + 1/4. You add the numerator and keep the common denominator the same. Your answer is 13/4 or 3 and 1/4.
Hope this helps!
