Solve 1/4 + 3/4: Visual Fraction Addition with Box Segments

Q: Why don't I add the denominators together?

The denominator tells you how many equal parts the whole is divided into. Since both fractions use fourths, you're still working with fourths - just adding more pieces!

Q: How does the visual box help me understand this?

The box is divided into 4 equal segments. You're combining 1 shaded segment with 3 more shaded segments, giving you all 4 segments - which equals 1 whole box!

Q: What if my answer is an improper fraction?

That's fine! Always simplify when possible. Here, $ \frac{4}{4} $ simplifies to 1 because any number divided by itself equals 1.

Q: Do I always get a whole number when adding fractions?

No! This problem gives us 1 because we're adding parts that make a complete whole. Many fraction additions result in other fractions.

Q: What if the denominators were different?

Then you'd need to find a common denominator first! But since both fractions here are fourths, you can add directly.

Fraction Addition with Same Denominators

$\frac{1}{4}+\frac{3}{4}=$

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations

00:07 Let's solve this problem step by step.

00:11 First, we'll color in the squares based on the information we have.

00:17 Next, let's count the colored squares and write this number as the numerator of our new fraction.

00:23 For the denominator, we'll use the total number of squares we divided our shape into.

00:29 Remember, when we divide a number by itself, we always get 1.

00:33 And there we have it! That's our solution to the problem.

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution

Understand the problem

$\frac{1}{4}+\frac{3}{4}=$

Step-by-step solution

To solve the problem of adding the fractions $\frac{1}{4}$ and $\frac{3}{4}$ , we can follow these steps:

Step 1: Identify that both fractions share the same denominator of 4.
Step 2: Add the numerators directly: $1 + 3 = 4$ .
Step 3: Retain the common denominator, giving us $\frac{4}{4}$ .
Step 4: Simplify the result, $\frac{4}{4} = 1$ .

Therefore, the sum of $\frac{1}{4}$ and $\frac{3}{4}$ is $1$ .

Final Answer

$1$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Rule: When denominators match, add numerators and keep denominator
Technique: Add numerators: 1 + 3 = 4, keep denominator 4
Check: Simplify the result: $\frac{4}{4} = 1$ ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Adding both numerators and denominators
Don't add 1/4 + 3/4 = 4/8! This creates a completely wrong fraction that doesn't represent the actual sum. Always keep the same denominator and only add the numerators when denominators are equal.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

$$ $\frac{4}{5}+\frac{1}{5}=$

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why don't I add the denominators together?

The denominator tells you how many equal parts the whole is divided into. Since both fractions use fourths, you're still working with fourths - just adding more pieces!

How does the visual box help me understand this?

The box is divided into 4 equal segments. You're combining 1 shaded segment with 3 more shaded segments, giving you all 4 segments - which equals 1 whole box!

What if my answer is an improper fraction?

That's fine! Always simplify when possible. Here, $\frac{4}{4}$ simplifies to 1 because any number divided by itself equals 1.

Do I always get a whole number when adding fractions?

No! This problem gives us 1 because we're adding parts that make a complete whole. Many fraction additions result in other fractions.

What if the denominators were different?

Then you'd need to find a common denominator first! But since both fractions here are fourths, you can add directly.

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