how to add the following 1 by 6 + 1 by 8 + 1 by 12
Answers
To add the 3 given fractions, we need to have a common denominator; As yet we don't have one. To get a common denominator, which will be the least or lowest common denominator of all three given denominators: 2, 4, and 8, we need to ask ourselves: "What is the smallest number that 2, 4, and 8 will divide into evenly?" ANSWER: 8, since 8/2 = 4, 8/4 = 2, and 8/8 = 1.
Now convert the first two fractions, 1/2 and 1/4, to an equivalent fraction with 8 as the denominator. We don't need to convert the third fraction, 1/8, to an equivalent fraction since 8 is plainly already the denominator:
1/2 + 1/4 + 1/8 = (1/2)(1) + (1/4)(1) + 1/8
= (1/2)(4/4) + (1/4)(2/2) + 1/8
= [(1)(4)]/[(2)(4)] + [(1)(2)/[(4)(2)] + 1/8
= 4/8 + 2/8 + 1/8
Now, we have 3 fractions with a common denominator; So, to add the 3 fractions, we add their numerators and then put the resultant sum over the determined least common denominator 8 as follows:
= (4 + 2+ 1)/8
= 7/8 is the desired sum or the final result