Resources/Fractions practice: add and compare fractions
Grades 4-6•Printable worksheet + answer key•CC0 license

Fractions practice: add and compare fractions

A short, printable lesson focused on adding fractions with unlike denominators.

Use this lesson to build fraction confidence. It includes clear steps, common misconceptions, and a practice set with answer key.

Print-ready worksheet with answer key and quick teaching tips.

Grades 4-60 problems10 minAnswer key included
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Ready-to-teach

Clear steps, examples, and practice in one printable page.

Misconception-proof

Highlights common mistakes and how to fix them quickly.

Open license

CC0: free to copy, adapt, and share without attribution.

Quick overview

This free fractions worksheet for grades 4-6 focuses on adding, simplifying, and comparing fractions with unlike denominators.

Lesson plan snapshot

15-20 min
  • Warm-up (3 min): review equivalent fractions with a quick visual.
  • Model (5 min): solve the worked example together.
  • Guided practice (5 min): complete problems 1-3 as a group.
  • Independent practice (7 min): finish the remaining problems.

Materials: fraction strips, pencil

Learning targets

  • Find common denominators and rewrite fractions accurately.
  • Add fractions and simplify the result.
  • Compare fractions using benchmarks like 1/2.

Step-by-step approach

  1. 1Identify the denominators and find a common denominator.
  2. 2Rewrite each fraction with the common denominator.
  3. 3Add the numerators and keep the denominator.
  4. 4Simplify the result if possible.

Common mistakes

Mistake

Adding denominators directly (1/2 + 1/4 = 2/6).

Try instead

Only add numerators once the denominators match.

Mistake

Choosing a denominator that is not a common multiple.

Try instead

Use the least common multiple to keep numbers small.

Mistake

Forgetting to simplify.

Try instead

Reduce the fraction by dividing by a common factor.

Worked example

Guided
Solve: 23+16=?\frac{2}{3} + \frac{1}{6} = ?
  1. Find a common denominator: 6.
  2. Rewrite 2/3 as 4/6.
  3. Add: 4/6 + 1/6 = 5/6.
Answer: 5/6

Related resources

Intro to fractions

Unit fractions and equal parts of a whole.

View resource

Word problems

Multi-step fraction reasoning and setup practice.

View resource

Decimals

Place value and decimal operations practice.

View resource

Practice problems

16 problems • 24 min

Printable worksheet
  1. 1
    Compare: Which is larger, 46\frac{4}{6} or 45\frac{4}{5}?
  2. 2
    Simplify: 2427\frac{24}{27}
  3. 3
    Solve: 13+13\frac{1}{3} + \frac{1}{3}
  4. 4
    Compare: Which is larger, 25\frac{2}{5} or 35\frac{3}{5}?
  5. 5
    Solve: 58−24\frac{5}{8} - \frac{2}{4}
  6. 6
    Compare: Which is larger, 13\frac{1}{3} or 25\frac{2}{5}?
  7. 7
    Simplify: 812\frac{8}{12}
  8. 8
    Solve: 23−24\frac{2}{3} - \frac{2}{4}
  9. 9
    Solve: 28+23\frac{2}{8} + \frac{2}{3}
  10. 10
    Solve: 56−48\frac{5}{6} - \frac{4}{8}
  11. 11
    Solve: 34−35\frac{3}{4} - \frac{3}{5}
  12. 12
    Solve: 12+12\frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{2}
  13. 13
    Simplify: 1224\frac{12}{24}
  14. 14
    Solve: 12+24\frac{1}{2} + \frac{2}{4}
  15. 15
    Solve: 45+25\frac{4}{5} + \frac{2}{5}
  16. 16
    Compare: Which is larger, 46\frac{4}{6} or 12\frac{1}{2}?

Answer key

16 answers
  1. 11) 4/5
  2. 22) 8/9
  3. 33) 2/3
  4. 44) 3/5
  5. 55) 1/8
  6. 66) 2/5
  7. 77) 2/3
  8. 88) 1/6
  9. 99) 11/12
  10. 1010) 1/3
  11. 1111) 3/20
  12. 1212) 1
  13. 1313) 4/8
  14. 1414) 1
  15. 1515) 6/5
  16. 1616) 4/6

Teacher tips

  • TUse fraction strips or area models before moving to symbols.
  • TAsk students to estimate whether the sum is above or below 1.
  • THave students explain why the denominator stays the same.

Parent tips

  • PUse kitchen measurements to show 1/2 + 1/4 in real life.
  • PEncourage your child to draw a quick picture before computing.
  • PCelebrate when they simplify correctly, not just the final answer.

Open license

You are free to copy, adapt, and share these materials. No attribution required. Released under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 (public domain).