Adding and subtracting two fractions with the same denominator is easy: the numerators are added or subtracted while the denominator is left unchanged. if possible, the answer is simplified.

Example

\[\begin{aligned}\tfrac{5}{14} +\tfrac{3}{14}&=\tfrac{5+3}{14}=\tfrac{8}{14}=\tfrac{4}{7} \\[0.2cm] \tfrac{5}{14} -\tfrac{3}{14}&=\tfrac{5-3}{14}=\tfrac{2}{14}=\tfrac{1}{7}\end{aligned}\]

Adding and subtracting two fractions with the different denominators can be done via the following algorithm:

• rewrite the rational numbers as fractions with the same denominator;
• add or subtract these fractions;
• if possible, simplify the answer.

Example

\[\begin{aligned}\tfrac{3}{10} +\tfrac{2}{15}&=\tfrac{\phantom{1}3\times 15}{10\times 15}+\tfrac{10\times 2\phantom{1}}{10\times 15}\\&=\tfrac{45}{150}+\tfrac{20}{150}=\tfrac{65}{150}=\tfrac{13}{30} \\[0.2cm] \tfrac{3}{10} -\tfrac{2}{15}&=\tfrac{\phantom{1}3\times 3}{10\times 3}-\tfrac{\phantom{1}2\times 2}{15\times 2}\\&=\tfrac{9}{30}-\tfrac{4}{30}=\tfrac{5}{30}=\tfrac{1}{6}\end{aligned}\]