Adding Mixed Fractions Worksheets, with Subtracting, Grades 4 and 5

Q: Are there subtracting mixed fractions worksheets here too?

Yes. Two groups in the Sheet type menu are subtraction only, one for like denominators and one for unlike. Mixed fraction is another name for mixed number: a whole number and a proper fraction written together.

Pick the step in Sheet type, from 2 1/5 + 1 3/5 to 4 1/5 − 1 3/5, then press Print.

Sheet type

Problems

Answer key

12 problems. Add mixed numbers, unlike denominators, no regrouping. Sheet 5J7EMY, with its answer key.

Add mixed numbers, unlike denominators, no regrouping

Name Date Score / 12

Add. Rename the fractions with a common denominator first. Write each answer in lowest terms, and as a mixed number when it is 1 or more.

1. + = ________
2. + = ________
3. + = ________
4. + = ________
5. + = ________
6. + = ________
7. + = ________
8. + = ________
9. + = ________
10. + = ________
11. + = ________
12. + = ________

Sheet 5J7EMY · Made at homeroomtools.com

Answer key. Add mixed numbers, unlike denominators, no regrouping

1. + = + =
2. + = + =
3. + = + =
4. + = + =
5. + = + =
6. + = + =
7. + = + =
8. + = + =
9. + = + = =
10. + = + =
11. + = + =
12. + = + =

Sheet 5J7EMY · Made at homeroomtools.com

Next step See the other 5th grade math sheets Warm up with whole-number addition

How it works

Free adding mixed fractions worksheets for the step your class is on: like or unlike denominators, with or without regrouping. Subtracting has the same steps. Choose one in Sheet type, press Make a new sheet for new numbers, then press Print.

Read the full guide

Which grade adds which mixed numbers

Common Core 4.NF.3c puts like denominators in grade 4, and unlike denominators arrive in grade 5 with 5.NF.1. Texas draws the same line at 4.3(E) and 5.3(H), without ever saying mixed number. The like-denominator sheets use only 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12, from the Common Core's grade 4 list.

Regrouping and borrowing, one at a time

Adding goes wrong when the fraction parts pass 1: 2 3/5 + 1 4/5 = 3 7/5. The 7/5 must become 1 2/5 to give 4 2/5. Subtracting goes wrong when the first fraction is the smaller: 4 1/5 − 1 3/5 becomes 3 6/5 − 1 3/5 = 2 3/5. Each Adding or Subtracting group in Sheet type has a sheet where this never happens and one where it always does.

Print Sums that make a whole number the day before borrowing: 3/8 + 5/8 = 1 is the fact borrowing needs.
For a pupil who always takes the smaller fraction from the larger, switch to Subtract by changing to improper fractions.
To print without the key, clear Answer key.

Questions and answers

Are there subtracting mixed fractions worksheets here too?

Yes. Two groups in the Sheet type menu are subtraction only, one for like denominators and one for unlike. Mixed fraction is another name for mixed number: a whole number and a proper fraction written together.

Should pupils convert to improper fractions or keep the wholes separate?

Either is sound. Keeping the wholes separate keeps numbers small: 7 1/4 − 2 3/4 = 6 5/4 − 2 3/4 = 4 1/2. Converting avoids borrowing but gives 29/4 − 11/4 = 18/4, which is harder to turn back. One sheet type here converts.

Do you need the least common denominator?

Any common denominator works, but the least keeps numbers small. For 2 3/4 + 1 5/6, twelfths give 2 9/12 + 1 10/12 = 3 19/12 = 4 7/12. Twenty-fourths give 3 38/24, which still needs simplifying. The keys here use the least one.

All 19 sheet types

Adding, like denominators 5

Add mixed numbers, like denominators, no regrouping 2 1/5 + 1 3/5 = 3 4/5. Add the wholes, add the fifths. No pair of fraction parts reaches 1 and no answer needs simplifying, so the rule is the only thing to learn.
Add mixed numbers, like denominators, regroup 2 3/5 + 1 4/5 = 3 7/5 = 4 2/5. The fifths add to more than a whole, so 7/5 is renamed as 1 2/5 and the 1 joins the wholes. Every problem on the sheet regroups.
Add, then simplify the fraction part 1 3/8 + 2 1/8 = 3 4/8 = 3 1/2. Nothing regroups, but every fraction part has a common factor to divide out. The key prints both 3 4/8 and 3 1/2, so you can accept either.
Mixed number + proper fraction, like denominators 2 3/4 + 3/4 = 2 6/4 = 3 2/4 = 3 1/2. Only one addend has a whole part, which makes the regrouping easy to forget. About half of the problems regroup.
Sums that make a whole number 1 3/8 + 2 5/8 = 3 8/8 = 4. The fraction parts always add to exactly 1. Worth a day before subtraction, because 3/8 + 5/8 = 1 is the same fact pupils lean on when they borrow.

Show all 19 sheet types (14 more)

Subtracting, like denominators 5

Subtract by changing to improper fractions 3 1/4 − 1 3/4 = 13/4 − 7/4 = 6/4 = 3/2 = 1 1/2. No borrowing at all: convert, subtract the numerators, convert back. Common Core 4.NF.3c names this method beside the regrouping one.
Subtract mixed numbers, like denominators, borrow 4 1/5 − 1 3/5 = 3 6/5 − 1 3/5 = 2 3/5. One whole is renamed as 5/5, so 4 1/5 becomes 3 6/5. Every problem on the sheet needs it.
Subtract mixed numbers, like denominators, no borrowing 3 4/5 − 1 1/5 = 2 3/5. Subtract the wholes, subtract the fifths. The first fraction part is always the larger one and no answer needs simplifying.
Whole number − mixed number 4 − 2 3/4 = 3 4/4 − 2 3/4 = 1 1/4. There is no fraction to subtract from, so one whole is renamed first. A pupil who answers 2 3/4 has subtracted the wholes and copied the fraction.
Whole number − proper fraction 5 − 2/3 = 4 3/3 − 2/3 = 4 1/3. The gentlest borrowing sheet: one whole becomes thirds and nothing else changes.

Adding, unlike denominators 5

Add mixed numbers, one denominator a multiple of the other 1 1/2 + 2 1/4 = 1 2/4 + 2 1/4 = 3 3/4. Only one fraction is renamed, because 4 is a multiple of 2. The first step into unlike denominators, with no regrouping.
Add mixed numbers, unlike denominators, no regrouping 2 1/3 + 1 1/2 = 2 2/6 + 1 3/6 = 3 5/6. Rename both fraction parts over the least common denominator, then add wholes and fractions. The wholes do not change while the fractions are renamed.
Add mixed numbers, unlike denominators, regroup 2 3/4 + 1 2/3 = 2 9/12 + 1 8/12 = 3 17/12 = 4 5/12. Two jobs in one problem: rename over a common denominator, then turn 17/12 into 1 5/12.
Regroup or not? Mixed addition sheet 1 2/3 + 2 1/6 = 1 4/6 + 2 1/6 = 3 5/6 stays as it is. 1 2/3 + 2 5/6 = 1 4/6 + 2 5/6 = 3 9/6 = 4 3/6 = 4 1/2 regroups. Half of the problems regroup, so pupils have to look.
Three mixed numbers 1 1/2 + 2 1/4 + 1 3/8 = 1 4/8 + 2 2/8 + 1 3/8 = 4 9/8 = 5 1/8. One common denominator has to serve all three fractions. Denominators come from one family, such as 2, 4 and 8 or 2, 3 and 6.

Subtracting, unlike denominators 4

Borrow or not? Mixed subtraction sheet 5 1/2 − 2 1/3 = 5 3/6 − 2 2/6 = 3 1/6 needs no borrowing. 5 1/3 − 2 1/2 = 5 2/6 − 2 3/6 = 4 8/6 − 2 3/6 = 2 5/6 does. Pupils cannot tell which until both fractions share a denominator.
Mixed number − proper fraction, unlike denominators 2 1/6 − 1/2 = 2 1/6 − 3/6 = 1 7/6 − 3/6 = 1 4/6 = 1 2/3. A small fraction taken from a mixed number, which still needs a renamed whole about half the time.
Subtract mixed numbers, unlike denominators, borrow 3 1/4 − 1 2/3 = 3 3/12 − 1 8/12 = 2 15/12 − 1 8/12 = 1 7/12. Rename first, then borrow: 3 3/12 becomes 2 15/12. The longest working on this page, and the key prints every line of it.
Subtract mixed numbers, unlike denominators, no borrowing 3 3/4 − 1 1/3 = 3 9/12 − 1 4/12 = 2 5/12. Rename, then subtract wholes and fractions. After renaming, the first fraction is always the larger one.

How this list was compiled: Own list of sheet types. Every worked example was checked with exact fraction arithmetic. Definitions and methods (mixed fraction as another name for mixed number, common denominators, borrowing, changing to an improper fraction) were checked against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraction. Standards were read in the full texts in September 2026: Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, https://learning.ccsso.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Math_Standards1.pdf (4.NF.3c, 4.NF.3d, the grade 4 footnote on denominators, 5.NF.1, 5.NF.2); Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, 19 TAC chapter 111, https://tea.texas.gov/laws-and-rules/sboe-rules-tac/sboe-tac-currently-effect/ch111a.pdf (4.3(E), 4.3(F), 5.3(A), 5.3(H), 5.3(K)). Licence: own work