When working with fractions in Python, you may come across the need to add two fractions together. In this article, we will explore three different ways to solve this problem.

Option 1: Using the fractions module

The fractions module in Python provides a Fraction class that allows us to perform arithmetic operations on fractions. To add two fractions using this module, we can follow these steps:

from fractions import Fraction

# Define the fractions
fraction1 = Fraction(1, 2)
fraction2 = Fraction(3, 4)

# Add the fractions
result = fraction1 + fraction2

# Print the result
print(result)

This code imports the Fraction class from the fractions module and creates two Fraction objects representing the fractions 1/2 and 3/4. We then add these fractions together using the “+” operator and store the result in the variable “result”. Finally, we print the result.

Option 2: Using the math module

If you don’t want to use the fractions module, you can also add fractions using the math module. However, this approach requires converting the fractions to floating-point numbers and then performing the addition. Here’s an example:

import math

# Define the fractions
fraction1 = 1/2
fraction2 = 3/4

# Add the fractions
result = fraction1 + fraction2

# Print the result
print(result)

In this code, we directly define the fractions as floating-point numbers and add them together using the “+” operator. The result is also a floating-point number.

Option 3: Writing a custom function

If you prefer a more customized approach, you can write a function to add fractions. This function would take the numerator and denominator of each fraction as input and return the sum as a Fraction object. Here’s an example:

from fractions import Fraction

def add_fractions(numerator1, denominator1, numerator2, denominator2):
    fraction1 = Fraction(numerator1, denominator1)
    fraction2 = Fraction(numerator2, denominator2)
    result = fraction1 + fraction2
    return result

# Define the fractions
numerator1 = 1
denominator1 = 2
numerator2 = 3
denominator2 = 4

# Add the fractions using the custom function
result = add_fractions(numerator1, denominator1, numerator2, denominator2)

# Print the result
print(result)

In this code, we define a function called “add_fractions” that takes the numerator and denominator of each fraction as input. Inside the function, we create Fraction objects for each fraction, add them together, and return the result. We then define the fractions outside the function and call the “add_fractions” function to add them together.

After exploring these three options, it is clear that using the fractions module (Option 1) is the best approach for adding fractions in Python. This module provides a dedicated Fraction class that handles fraction arithmetic accurately and efficiently. It also allows for easy manipulation of fractions, such as simplification and conversion to other representations. Therefore, if you need to perform arithmetic operations on fractions, it is recommended to use the fractions module for optimal results.