1. HARCOURT MATH Name
GRADE 4 Date
Chapter 22
WHAT WE ARE LEARNING Dear Family,
Add and Subtract Fractions Your child is learning how to add and subtract like
and Mixed Numbers and unlike fractions and mixed numbers. To help your
child visualize the fractions, we are using fraction bars.
VOCABULARY Here are some examples of what is being taught:
Here are the vocabulary Adding and Subtracting Like Fractions
words we use in class:
3 7
1
Like fractions Like 10 10
1 2
fractions are fractions with 10 10
the same denominator. 4 , or 2 5 1
5 1 , or 1
10 10 2
Unlike fractions Unlike
Add or subtract the numerators.
fractions are fractions with
different denominators. Adding and Subtracting Unlike Fractions
Add. 1 1
3 4
STEP 1 STEP 2
To add unlike fractions, first Find the like fraction bars that
look at the denominators. fit exactly under 1 and 1 .
3 4
1 1
1 1 1 1 1
3 3 3 3 4
1 1 1 1
4 4 4 4 ?
STEP 3
Add the like fractions.
So, 1
3
1
4
7
12 .
1
1 1
3 4
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
12 12 12 12 12 12 12
When you subtract unlike fractions, you first find
equivalent fractions with like denominators. Then,
© Harcourt
subtract the numerators.
Included with these pages are fraction bars for
you and your child to cut out and use for the practice
exercises and the riddle game.
Sincerely,
Family Involvement Activities FA85

2. Equivalent Fractions HOME ACTIVITY
Here are some fraction bars to cut out and use for the activities. For durability,
glue the strips onto light cardboard.
1. Use the fraction bars to find all of the fractions equivalent to 1 .
2
2. Use the fraction bars to find all of the fractions equivalent to 2 .
3
3. Use the fraction bars to find all of the fractions equivalent to 3 .
4
1 1
2 2
1 1 1
3 3 3
1 1 1 1
4 4 4 4
1 1 1 1 1 1
6 6 6 6 6 6
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15 15
© Harcourt
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 16
Answers: 1. 4 , 6 , 8 , 12 , 16 ; 2. 6 , 12 , 15 ; 3. 8 , 12 , 16
12 9 6 10 8 4 8 6 2 3 4
FA86 Family Involvement Activities

3. PRACTICE/HOMEWORK
Name _________________________
Add and Subtract Fractions and Mixed Numbers
Find the sum.
3 2 1 1 3 2
1. 4 4 2. 3 3 3. 8 8
Compare. Write , , or in each circle.
1 1 1 4 4 4 5 3
4. 3 3 4 5. 10 10 5 6. 6 6 2
Find the difference.
6 3 7 3 7 1
7. 8 8 8. 12 12 9. 3 3
Find the sum or difference.
10. 41
4 11. 51
3 12. 6
5 12 13. 32
3
31
4 21
3
3
4 12 11
3
Find the sum or difference. Use fraction bars
or draw pictures to help you.
1 2 3 7
14. 3 15. 5 16. 6 17. 8
2 1 2 3
4 3 12 4
© Harcourt
2 5 4 4
18. 3 19. 6 20. 5 21. 8
1 1 2 1
9 3 10 2
14. 12 , or 6 ; 15. 15 ; 16. 12 , or 3 ; 17. 8 ; 18. 9 ; 19. 6 , or 2 ; 20. 10 , or 1; 21. 0
10 1 3 7 1 2 8 1 5 10
; 7. 8 ; 8. 12 , or 3 ; 9. 3 , or 2; 10. 7 4 , or 7 2 ; 11. 3; 12. 9 12 , or 9 4 ; 13. 2 3 ; ; 6. ; 5. Answers: 1. 4 , or 1 4 ; 2. 3 ; 3. 8 ; 4.
1 3 9 1 2 6 1 4 3 5 2 1 5
Family Involvement Activities FA87

4. MATH GAME
Here’s a riddle: Why is the moon like a dollar?
To solve it, circle the fraction in each row that is not equivalent to the others in that row.
Write its letter above its row number on the blanks at the bottom of the page.
Use the fraction bars from the Home Activity for help.
2 4 7 10
1 3 B 6 C R N
6 15
1 4 6 2
2 4 D 16 E G Q
24 10
2 3 4 1
3 16 V 15 F X M
32 8
8 6 10 3
4 12 P 9 Z L O
15 10
1 4 6 3
5 3 A 8 N C X
12 6
2 9 6 12
6 5 U 12 Y J K
8 16
4 2 4 8
7 9 T 3 P S F
6 12
4 1 4 3
8 20 U 5 L E B
10 15
1 4 3 3
9 3 Z 12 T G S
9 6
© Harcourt
Answer: It has ____ ____ ____ _____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____.
3 4 6 1 2 6 5 1 7 8 1 9
Answer: four quarters
FA88 Family Involvement Activities