How do you evaluate #\frac { 5} { 8} + \frac { 8} { 12} #?

2 Answers
Jun 28, 2017

#1(7/24)#

Explanation:

Find the common denominator. It is 24.

Multiply each fraction by a fraction (equal to 1) that makes the denominator 24.

#5/8*3/3=15/24# and #8/12*2/2=16/24#

Add them together #15/24+16/24=31/24=1(7/24)#

Jun 28, 2017

The answer is #31/24#.

Explanation:

The way to add fractions is by getting the two denominators to be the same and adding the two numerators.

For this, we have to find the LCM (Lowest Common Multiple) of the two denominators.

For #8# and #12#, the LCM is #24#.

To get to #24#, #8# has to be multiplied by #3# and #12# has to be multiplied by #2#.

To ensure that both the fractions remain the same in value, we multiply both the numerator and the denominator by the same factor (#3# or #2#).

#5/8+8/12#

#[5/8xx3/3]+[8/12xx2/2]#

#15/24+16/24#

Keeping the denominator the same, we add the numerators.

#(15+16)/24#

#31/24#