Let's say I have something like the following: $$\frac{4x+4h}{x+h+1} - \frac{4x}{x+1}.$$

I need to add these fractions together, under a denominator they all share. This would be easy if the fractions had denominators with multiplication, ex. with denominators "xh" and "x" I could just keep the first numerator and multiply the second by "h". However, since this is addition we're talking about in the denominator, how do I simplify both of these fractions to be a single fraction under a denominator?

• With usual fractions, you just take the least common multiple, right? Think of what you'd do to add up $\frac{7}{11}$ and $\frac{9}{13}$; you can do something like that here. – J. M. is a poor mathematician Feb 6 '12 at 16:24

You do it the same way we do with numbers: find a common denominator and then just add the numerators.

For example, if you needed to add $$\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{3}$$ you need to find a "common denominator" (a number which is a multiple of both $2$ and $3$), convert the two fractions to the common denominator, and then add them. The simplest common denominator is just the product of the two denominators, we one way to do this is: \begin{align*} \frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{3} &= \frac{1}{2}\cdot\frac{3}{3} + \frac{1}{3}\cdot\frac{2}{2}\\ &= \frac{3}{6} + \frac{2}{6}\\ &= \frac{3+2}{6}\\ &= \frac{5}{6}.\end{align*}

So do the same thing here: \begin{align*} \frac{4x+4h}{x+h+1} - \frac{4x}{x+1} &= \frac{4x+4h}{x+h+1}\cdot\frac{x+1}{x+1} + \frac{4x}{x+1}\cdot\frac{x+h+1}{x+h+1} \\ &= \frac{(4x+4h)(x+1)}{(x+h+1)(x+1)} - \frac{4x(x+h+1)}{(x+h+1)(x+1)}.\end{align*} Now you can just add them, since they have the same denominator, by keeping the denominator and adding numerators. Do the algebra in the numerator, and simplify as needed.

Note: If you are more comfortable with the algebra, there are things you can do to simplify your life; when adding fractions, sometimes the product of the denominators is not the best common denominator: if you can spot a simpler one, use it. For instance, if we had $\frac{1}{6}+\frac{1}{10}$, then we could use $30$ as the common denominator, instead of $6\times 10 = 60$, which leads to smaller numbers, easier arithmetic; likewise, if we had $$\frac{1}{x^2-1} + \frac{2}{x^2+2x+1}$$ then you could use $(x^2-1)(x^2+2x+1)$ as a common denominator, but if you could spot that $x^2-1 = (x+1)(x-1)$ and $x^2+2x+1 = (x+1)^2$, then you might realize that you can use $(x+1)^2(x-1)$ instead, which is smaller (degree 3 instead of degree 4).

In your situation, on possible simplification is to note that both fractions are multiples of $4$. So you can factor out $4$ and deal with simpler fractions if you want. But if you are unsure about these kinds of simplifying steps, then don't do them. They are not strictly necessary, though they are useful when dealing with more complicated expressions.

If only we had a common fraction!

We don't know if $x + 1$ divides $x + h + 1$ (it probably doesn't divide it nicely). But $x+1$ and $x+h+1$ always divide $(x+1)(x+h+1)$ nicely. You should put everything over this denominator.