Adding Fractions with Unlike Denominators

So, say we have a problem like 2/5 + 1/3.

 You have to find the LCD which stands for least common denominator. The LCD is the smallest multiple of both those numbers go into.

 So, 5 and 3 both go into 30 but, that's not the LCD. The LCD would be 15 because, that's the smallest multiple they both go into.

 So, the denominators for both fractions are going to be 15.

 Then, you think 5 x ? = 15. In this case it's three. So, you multiply the two in 2/5 so 2 x 3= 6 and 5 x 3= 15 so the new fraction will be 6/15.

After that you do the same thing to 1/3. You think 3 x ?= 15. It's 5. So, you multiply the 1 in 1/3 so 1 x 5= 5 and 3 x 5= 15.

 So, your new fraction is 5/15. So now you add 6/15 + 5/15= 11/15.

 Finally, you check to see if it's in simplest form which it is because, 11 is a prime number. So, your final answer is 11/15.

Fraction Games 

For all Fractions