Explanation:
Addition of fractions can be accomplished using the formula ...
a/b + c/d = (ad +bc)/(bd)
Usually, you are asked to find the common denominator and rewrite the fractions using that denominator. It is not necessary, but it can save a step in the reduction of the final result. Here, we'll use the formula, then reduce the result to lowest terms.
___
13. 5/6 +9/11 = (5·11 +6·9)/(6·11) = 109/66 = 1 43/66
___
14. 7/20 -5/8 = (7·8 -20·5)/(20·8) = -44/160 = -11/40
___
15. 1/5 -1/12 = (1·12 -5·1)/(5·12) = 7/60
___
Dividing fractions can be accomplished different ways. I was taught to multiply by the inverse of the divisor. ("Invert and multiply.") Here, that means the problem (2/7) / (1/13) can be rewritten as ...
(2/7) × (13/1) . . . . . where 13/1 is the inverse of 1/13.
You can also express the fractions over a common denominator. In that case, the quotient is the ratio of the numerators. Perhaps a little less obvious is that you can express the fractions using a common numerator. Then the quotient is the inverse of the ratio of the denominators: (2/7) / (2/26) = 26/7. (You can see how this works if you "invert and multiply" the fractions with common numerators. Those numerators cancel.)
__
16. (2/7)/(1/13) = 2/7·13/1 = 26/7 = 3 5/7
