When adding fractions with the same denominator, what do you keep the same?

When adding fractions that have the same denominator, it is essential to keep the denominator unchanged. This is because the denominator represents the total number of equal parts into which a whole is divided. Since the fractions are already expressed in terms of the same whole, when you combine them, you only need to adjust the numerators, which represent the number of those parts being considered.

For example, if you add ( \frac{2}{5} ) and ( \frac{3}{5} ), you simply add the numerators (2 + 3) while keeping the denominator (5) the same. This results in ( \frac{5}{5} ), which simplifies to 1.

Maintaining the denominator is crucial because altering it would change the value of the fractions in a way that does not accurately represent the combined amount. Thus, keeping the denominator consistent while adjusting the numerators is the correct approach in this scenario.