How do you add and subtract like mixed numbers?

Like mixed numbers are mixed numbers which have the same denominator. Before adding or subtracting like mixed numbers, change each mixed number to an improper fraction.

Example 1:

To add like mixed numbers:

At the fair, books of tickets were sold for the rodeo, and books of tickets were sold for the concert. Find how many books of tickets were sold for both events.

First, change each mixed number to an improper fraction. Make the numerator of each improper fraction by multiplying the denominator by the whole number, and then add the numerator of the mixed number.

The denominator is the same as in the mixed number, so write 5 as the denominator of the improper fractions.

Add the two numerators. 13 + 9 = 22, so 22 is the numerator of the sum.

                              

The sum is already in simplest form because the numerator and denominator have no common factors other than 1.

Now change to a mixed number by dividing the numerator by the denominator. The quotient is the whole number. The remainder is the numerator. The divisor is the same denominator as in the improper fraction.

At the fair, books of tickets were sold for the rodeo and concert.