Mixed-Number Addition & Subtraction

How the lesson starts: Mixed-Number Addition & Subtraction

Ranger Maya's trail
Ranger Maya is hiking the Sunny Ridge trail! Her trail map uses mixed numbers, like 2 1/4 miles: some whole miles plus a fraction of a mile. Let's learn to read them, add them and subtract them!
Wholes hiding inside
Maya drinks 11/4 bottles of water. How many whole bottles is that? 4/4 fill bottle one. 4/4 more fill bottle two. 3/4 are left over. So 11/4 = 2 3/4 bottles! Divide: 11 ÷ 4 = 2 remainder 3.
Wholes, then parts
Add wholes with wholes and parts with parts. Day one, 2 1/4 miles. Day two, 3 2/4 miles. 2 + 3 = 5 and 1/4 + 2/4 = 3/4. Total: 5 3/4 miles! Subtracting works too: 6 5/8 − 2 3/8 = 4 2/8 = 4 1/4.