document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=491454>Question 491454</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Greetings,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "I am an older adult who has always struggled with basic algebra.  I am not sure that anyone can help me but I would like to ask some questions here in hopes to get a better understanding of math.  I do not have any actual math homework; I would just like to learn some math.  Here is my first question:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I do not understand how the following algebra problem works:\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "3/4 + 3/4 = 6/4  I do not understand how the top number can be larger than the bottom number.  I also do not understand how to add fractions that have different bottom numbers.  I attempted some of the problems on this site but I just got confused.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Thank you in advance for any help you can give me, and I am sorry for asking such silly questions.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Jim </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #334638 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=334638\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> 3/4 + 3/4 = 6/4 I do not understand how the top number can be larger than the bottom number.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Think of the 3/4 as a pie that has 4 equal parts.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3/4 means you have three of the 4<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So (3/4) + (3/4) means you have 3 of the 4 pieces from<BR>\n" );
document.write( "a first pie and you have 3 of the 4 pieces from a second<BR>\n" );
document.write( "pie.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So you have 6 of those (1/4) pieces .<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Thus (3/4) + (3/4) = 6/4<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The rule is, \" if you have the same denominators in fractions<BR>\n" );
document.write( "you are adding, you should just add the numerators and write<BR>\n" );
document.write( "that number over the denominator\".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So (1/8) + (5/8) = 6/8<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Or (2/3) + (3/3) = 5/3<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " I also do not understand how to add fractions that have different bottom numbers.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "If the denominators are different you have to find a number called<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the least common denominator.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So to add (2/3) + (1/5) you have to change (2/3) and you have to <BR>\n" );
document.write( "change (1/5) so they have the same denominator.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "How?<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2/3) = (2/3)(5/5) = 10/15<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(1/5) = (1/5)(3/3) = 3/15<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Now you can add because the denominators are the same:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2/3) + (1/5) = (10/15)+(3/15) = 13/15<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "You can find many, many sites online that will show you<BR>\n" );
document.write( "how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Just use Google and search for \"adding fractions\",<BR>\n" );
document.write( "or \"multiplying fractions\", or any other math you wish<BR>\n" );
document.write( "to learn.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H.<BR>\n" );
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