What is a easy way to add or subbtract fractions with unlike denominators
http://www.mathsisfun.com/fractions_addition.html
dd the fractions
2
/
3
,
3
/
8
, and
5
/
12
a
To add or subtract fractions with unlike denominators, you can follow these steps:
1. Find the least common multiple (LCM) of the denominators.
- The LCM is the smallest multiple that both denominators share. You can find it by listing the multiples of each denominator until you find the smallest one they have in common.
2. Create equivalent fractions with the common denominator.
- For each fraction, multiply both the numerator and denominator by a value that will make the denominator equal to the LCM found in step 1.
3. Once all the fractions have the same denominator, add or subtract the numerators.
- If you are adding, simply add the numerators together and keep the common denominator unchanged.
- If you are subtracting, subtract the numerators and keep the common denominator unchanged.
4. Simplify the resulting fraction, if needed.
- If the resulting fraction can be simplified by dividing both the numerator and denominator by a common factor, do so to get the simplest form.
By following these steps, you can easily add or subtract fractions with unlike denominators.