Final answer:
To add fractions with common denominators, you add the numerators and keep the denominator unchanged, then simplify. For whole numbers, convert them to fractions with a denominator of one and proceed with the same steps.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process for adding fractions with common denominators and whole numbers involves a few simple steps. First, ensure that all fractions involved have the same denominator. If they do, you can then add the numerators of the fractions directly. The denominator remains the same; it is never added to.
After adding the numerators, you may need to simplify the result if it's not in its lowest terms. This process applies to the addition of fractions and does not involve multiplying the denominators or the numerators together, which is a common misconception. Simplifying may require you to divide both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor.
For incorporating whole numbers into the addition, convert the whole number into a fraction by giving it a denominator of one. After converting, you follow the same rule: add the numerators, keep the denominator common, and simplify if necessary. An example of this is adding ½ + 1 which would involve converting 1 to a fraction (1/1), resulting in the need to add ½ (or 1/2) + 1/1. By finding a common denominator, we may convert them to equivalent fractions (2/4 + 4/4), after which we can add to get 6/4, and simplify to 3/2 or 1½.