Math Mammoth Fractions 1 is the first book of two that covers all aspects of fraction arithmetic. This book covers the concepts of fraction and mixed number, equivalent fractions, adding and subtracting like and unlike fractions, adding and subtracting mixed numbers, and comparing fractions. (The book Math Mammoth Fractions 2 covers the rest of fraction arithmetic: simplifying, multiplication, and division of fractions.) Studying fractions involves lots of rules, and many students learn them only mechanically, not really understanding the underlying concepts and principles. Then they end up making lots of mistakes because they confuse the different rules and either apply the wrong one or apply the right rule but they do not remember it quite right. All this can make students even fear fractions in math. To avoid that, this book uses the visual model of a pie divided into slices, all the way through the book. It is a very natural model, because it uses a circle that can be divided into any number of circle sectors (slices). When students work with this model from lesson to lesson, they will eventually be able to "see" these pies in their mind. This, in turn, gives them the ability to do many of the easier fraction calculations mentally. It also enables students to really UNDERSTAND these concepts, and not just learn mechanical rules. You are welcome to use manipulatives along with the book; however the visual pie model is probably sufficient for most students in 5th grade level. I have also included (in the appendix) printable cutouts for fractions from halves to twelfths. You can use them to make your own fraction manipulatives. The answers are appended.