Adding Fractions with Calculators Adding Fractions with Calculators Fraction calculators free students from the tedium of manually adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. While some practice adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators is important, it is more important that students have an understanding of what they are doing. Fraction calculators can be immensely helpful in teaching why common denominators are important. This activity will walk through how to use the calculators to perform addition and subtraction of fractions with unlike denominators.
Students first use the fraction calculator to obtain the answer.
They then complete the process for finding common denominators by filling in the blanks in a detailed worksheet. Math Objective Conceptual understanding of adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. In the first step, students will estimate their answers. We recommend that you use number lines as a basis for estimating the answer. Be sure to discuss reasonable answers here, and do not require students to come up with exact fractions.