How do you simplify the sum of #3/5 + 2/7#?

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Answer 1 · 2016-04-04T09:46:44

#31/35#

You can not directly add or subtract the top numbers of fractions unless the bottom numbers are all the same.

Both 5 and 7 will divide into 35 because #5xx7=35#
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Multiply #3/5# by 1 but in the form of #color(green)(1=7/7)# giving

#" "3/5color(green)(xx7/7) = 21/35#
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Multiply #2/7# by 1 but in the form of #color(brown)(1=5/5)# giving

#" " 2/7color(brown)(xx5/5)= 10/35#
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#color(blue)("Putting it all together"#

#" "3/5+2/7 " is the same as "21/35+10/35#

The correct way to write this is:

#" "3/5+2/7" " -=" "21/35+10/35#

#" "=31/35#