Adding and subtracting mixed numbers · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Adding and subtracting mixed numbers

Mathematics · Fractions · ages 9-10
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Add 2 and 1/5 + 1 and 3/5. What is the answer?

    • 3 and 4/5
    • 4 and 4/5
    • 3 and 3/5

  2. When adding mixed numbers with the same denominator, you add the whole numbers and add the fraction parts separately.

    Circle one:   True   False

  3. Subtract 3 and 1/4 from 5 and 3/4. What is the answer?

    • 2 and 2/4
    • 2 and 4/4
    • 3 and 2/4

  4. What is 4 4/9 - 1 1/9? Give your answer as a mixed number in simplest form.

    • 3 1/3
    • 3 5/9
    • 5 3/9
    • 2 8/9

  5. In 4 and 2/6 − 1 and 5/6, you borrow one whole from the 4. How many sixths do you have now in the first number (2/6 plus the borrowed sixths)?

    Answer: ______________

  6. Which pair of fraction parts adds up to one whole or more, so it needs to be regrouped?

    • 1/5 + 2/5
    • 2/6 + 3/6
    • 3/5 + 4/5

  7. What is 1 5/9 + 4 7/9? Give your answer as a mixed number in simplest form.

    • 6 1/3
    • 5 12/9
    • 7 2/9
    • 5 4/7

  8. Add 2 and 3/5 + 1 and 4/5. What is the answer as a mixed number?

    • 4 and 2/5
    • 3 and 7/5
    • 4 and 7/5

  9. Solve 6 and 1/8 − 2 and 5/8. After borrowing a whole and subtracting, what is the whole number part of the answer?

    Answer: ______________

  10. Amir solved 4 and 2/6 − 1 and 5/6 and got 3 and −3/6, saying the fraction part is negative. What did Amir forget to do?

    • Add the fractions instead of subtracting
    • Borrow a whole from the 4 to make the sixths bigger
    • Subtract the whole numbers first
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Adding and subtracting mixed numbers W1-mt_70qDTI14td-s1

  1. 3 and 4/5 · Add the whole numbers: 2 + 1 = 3. Add the fifths: 1/5 + 3/5 = 4/5.
  2. True · That is the two-step method: whole numbers together, fraction parts together.
  3. 2 and 2/4 · Subtract the whole numbers: 5 − 3 = 2. Subtract the fourths: 3/4 − 1/4 = 2/4.
  4. 3 1/3 · Subtract the fractions, subtract the wholes, then simplify the fraction part.
  5. 8 · A borrowed whole is 6/6. Add that to 2/6: 6/6 + 2/6 = 8/6.
  6. 3/5 + 4/5 · 3/5 + 4/5 = 7/5, and 7 is bigger than the denominator 5, so it makes a whole plus extra.
  7. 6 1/3 · Add the fractions first, regroup the improper fraction into a whole, then add the wholes and simplify.
  8. 4 and 2/5 · 3/5 + 4/5 = 7/5, which is 1 whole and 2/5. Add that whole to 3 to get 4 and 2/5.
  9. 3 · Borrow a whole from 6 to get 5 and 9/8. Then 5 − 2 = 3 for the whole number part.
  10. Borrow a whole from the 4 to make the sixths bigger · Since 2/6 is smaller than 5/6, Amir needed to borrow a whole from 4 before subtracting.
Worksheet · LightMySky