Question

How do you simplify `5 1/2 + 23 7/8 + 5 3/4 + 2 1/4`?

Answer 1

Convert all fractions to improper fractions, then find the lowest common denominator and add all the numerators together.

Explanation:

To convert to an improper fraction, you need to multiply the denominator by the whole number, and add that number to the current numerator.
For example, if you had 2`3/8`, the improper fraction of that would be `19/8`. You do this for all the fractions.

Then, you find the lowest common denominator and multiply the numerators by the same number you have to multiply the denominator by.
For example, if you had `19/8` and `3/16`, then the lowest common denominator would be 16, so you would end up with `22/16`.

Then, all you have to do is add the numerators together, keeping the denominator the same and, if you can, simplify the fraction.