Similar fractions are fractions that have the same denominator. For example, 1/5, 2/5, 3/5, and 4/5 are similar fractions because they all share the denominator 5
. In contrast, dissimilar fractions have different denominators, such as 3/4, 1/6, 3/7, and 2/3
. The key feature of similar fractions is that since their denominators are the same, you can directly compare or add/subtract them by focusing on their numerators
. If you have dissimilar fractions, you can convert them into similar fractions by finding the least common denominator (LCD) and rewriting each fraction with that common denominator
. In summary:
- Similar fractions: Fractions with the same denominator (e.g., 3/7 and 5/7).
- Dissimilar fractions: Fractions with different denominators (e.g., 3/4 and 5/8).
This concept is also sometimes called "like fractions"
