SOLUTION: I have always had problems with fractions. If you could help me out so I can do this in the future, that would be great. 1/8 + 5/6 - 2/3

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Question 67624: I have always had problems with fractions. If you could help me out so I can do this in the future, that would be great.
1/8 + 5/6 - 2/3
Found 3 solutions by funmath, stanbon, checkley71:
Answer by funmath(2933) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
In order to add or subtract fractions they have to have the same denominators (bottom number). Whatever you multiply the denominator by, you also have to multiply the numerator (top number) by.
In this case, the smallest number that 8, 6, and 3 all divide into evenly is 24.
1/8 + 5/6 - 2/3
1%2A3%2F%288%2A3%29%2B5%2A4%2F%286%2A4%29-2%2A8%2F%283%2A8%29
3%2F24%2B20%2F24-16%2F24
Now add and subtract the numerator and keep the denominator the same.
%283%2B20-16%29%2F24
%2823-16%29%2F24
highlight%287%2F24%29
Happy Calculating!!!

Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
1/8 + 5/6 - 2/3
------------
To add or subtract fractions they must have
the same denominator.
-------------------
The denominator you want is called the least common denominator (lcm).
For your problem the lcm is 24 because it is the smallest number that
8, 6, and 3 divide evenly.
------------------------------
So you convert each of your give fractions to ones having the lcm as
its denominator, as follows:
1/8 = 3/24 (I got that by multiply numerator and denominator by 3.
5/6 = 20/24 (I multiplied top and bottom by 4)
2/3 = 16/24 (I multiplied top and bottom by 8)
---------------
Now they all have the same denominator so I can add and subtracgt
the numerators to get:
[3 + 20 -16]/lcm
=7/lcm
=7/24
---------------
Cheers,
Stan H.

Answer by checkley71(8403) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
FIND A COMMON DENOMINATOR . THAT IS A NUMBER DIVISABLE BY 8,6&3.
AN EASY METHOD IS TO MULTIPLY ALL THREE 8*6*3=144.
HOWEVER A SMALLER COMMON DENOMINATOR CAN BE FOUND BY FACTORING ALL NUMBERS THUS:
8=(2)*2*2
6=(2)*(3)
3=(3) COMMOM FACTORS ARE (3) & ONE SET OF (2) SO WE ONLY NEED TO USE THESE DUPLICATE FACTORS ONCE THUS 2*3. THEN THE REMAINING FACTORS 2*2
WE NOW HAVE 2*3*2*2=24 THIS IS THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR.
1/8+5/6-2/3 NOW DIVIDE 24 BY EACH DENOMINATOR & MULTIPLY THIS NUMBER BY THE NUMERATOR THEN ADD ALL NUMERATORS OVER A DENOMINATOR OF 24:
(1*3)+(5*4)-(2*8)/24
(3+20-16)/24
7/24
HAPPY CALCULATING : )