+130536 I use this all the time...I just didn't realize there was a special name for it...!!
Here's an online resource that explains it.....http://www.moveitmaththesource.com/realfractions/butterflyfractio.html
Warning!!!.....this method produces an answer......but it might not always be in lowest terms!!!....this will occur when the denominators have common factors.....
Thus....you may have to be prepared to "reduce" your answers...
Here's an example of what I'm talking about
2/3 + 5/6 = [12 + 15] / 18 = 27/18 by the "butterfly" method....however.....this reduces because the "3" in the denominator of the first fraction is a factor of the "6" in the second fraction.....thus, the "reduced" answer is 3/2...!!!
This will never be a concern when both denominators are relatively prime....(i.e., have no factors in common....)
+130536 I use this all the time...I just didn't realize there was a special name for it...!!
Here's an online resource that explains it.....http://www.moveitmaththesource.com/realfractions/butterflyfractio.html
Warning!!!.....this method produces an answer......but it might not always be in lowest terms!!!....this will occur when the denominators have common factors.....
Thus....you may have to be prepared to "reduce" your answers...
Here's an example of what I'm talking about
2/3 + 5/6 = [12 + 15] / 18 = 27/18 by the "butterfly" method....however.....this reduces because the "3" in the denominator of the first fraction is a factor of the "6" in the second fraction.....thus, the "reduced" answer is 3/2...!!!
This will never be a concern when both denominators are relatively prime....(i.e., have no factors in common....)
