Question

When adding 2 fractions less than 1/2 what must be true

Answer 1

Answer:      First assume that the fractions are all positive.

Next, add 1/2 and 1/2; the sum is 1.  Thus, the two fractions must each be smaller than 1/2.

Let's try adding 5/16 and 7/16.  Both are smaller than 1/2.  Their sum is 12/16, or 3/4, which is less than 1.

Choose a couple other pairs of fractions which are between 0 and 1/2.  Then find the sum of each pair.  What do you observe about the size of these sums?