7. Communicate Clearly How is adding mixed numbers with unlike denominators similar to adding fractions with unlike denominators? How is it different?

Adding mixed numbers with unlike denominators follows the same fundamental principles as adding fractions with unlike denominators. You still need to find a common denominator before you can add the fractions or whole numbers together. This step is essential because it ensures that the fractions are expressing the same size parts, making addition possible and accurate! However, a key difference lies in the presence of whole numbers in mixed numbers. When adding mixed numbers, you first deal with the whole number parts separately, adding them together before addressing the fractional parts. After finding a common denominator and adding the fractions, you may sometimes need to convert the sum back into a mixed number if the fraction exceeds one!