Question about reducing fractions

[maxmac97]

2/9 + 4/9 = 6/9 to reduce I just find a number that can go evenly into both numbers which is 2 so the answer is 2/3. here is another problem 8/15 + 11/15 = 19/15 I reduce this by dividing 15 into 19 and I get 1 4/15. so there are two different methods for reducing a fraction. when I am looking at a fraction How do I know which method to use

 

[Steven G]

2/9 + 4/9 = 6/9 to reduce I just find a number that can go evenly into both numbers which is 2 so the answer is 2/3. here is another problem 8/15 + 11/15 = 19/15 I reduce this by dividing 15 into 19 and I get 1 4/15. so there are two different methods for reducing a fraction. when I am looking at a fraction How do I know which method to use

There is only one method of reducing and it the way you did in the 1st problem.
What you did in the 2nd problem was convert an improper fraction (a fraction that equals one or more) into a mixed number (a whole number and a fraction). A mixed number can also be reduced. For example 26/14 = 1 12/14 = 1 6/7. If you wanted to you could have reduces 1st and then convert to a mixed number. 26/14 = 13/7 = 1 6/7.

 

[maxmac97]

There is only one method of reducing and it the way you did in the 1st problem.
What you did in the 2nd problem was convert an improper fraction (a fraction that equals one or more) into a mixed number (a whole number and a fraction). A mixed number can also be reduced. For example 26/14 = 1 12/14 = 1 6/7. If you wanted to you could have reduces 1st and then convert to a mixed number. 26/14 = 13/7 = 1 6/7.

ok could you show me step by step how to reduce the second problem i gave useing the first method i gave ? also would I use the first method for subtraction, multiplication and division of fractions

 

[HallsofIvy]

2/9 + 4/9 = 6/9 to reduce I just find a number that can go evenly into both numbers which is 2 so the answer is 2/3.

Was "which is 2" a typo? It is 3 that divides evenly into both numbers, giving 2/3.

here is another problem 8/15 + 11/15 = 19/15 I reduce this by dividing 15 into 19 and I get 1 4/15. so there are two different methods for reducing a fraction. when I am looking at a fraction How do I know which method to use

That is NOT normally referred to as "reducing a fraction". That is changing an "improper fraction to a mixed fraction". "Reducing a fraction" always means cancelling any common factors in both numerator and denominator.

You cannot "reduce" the second fraction- it is already written in "least terms". The denominator factors as 3(5) but the numerator, 19, is a prime number- there are no common factors to cancel.