SOLUTION: Ok so im on adding and subtracting mixed numbers and Im so confused on how the numerator is changing with the denominator...I dont no if im making sense but here is an example...

Algebra ->  Numeric Fractions Calculators, Lesson and Practice -> SOLUTION: Ok so im on adding and subtracting mixed numbers and Im so confused on how the numerator is changing with the denominator...I dont no if im making sense but here is an example...       Log On


   



Question 283191: Ok so im on adding and subtracting mixed numbers and Im so confused on how the numerator is changing with the denominator...I dont no if im making sense but here is an example...

9 3/4 + 8 5/6
the numerators changed to 9 9/12 and 8 10/12 so confused I understand how to find everything else but that!

Found 2 solutions by richwmiller, oberobic:
Answer by richwmiller(17219) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
9 3/4 + 8 5/6
9 9/12 and 8 10/12
Maybe if I ask you some questions it will clear up what is happening.
Do you see how 3/4=9/12 ?
Do you see why 5/6=10/12 ?
Can you add 9 3/4 + 8 5/6 ?
Can you add 9 9/12 and 8 10/12 ?
How would you go about adding 9 3/4 + 8 5/6 ?
What would you do first?
What would you do next?

Answer by oberobic(2304) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
When you're dealing with fractions you need to get everything to the same denominator.
1/4 + 1/3 cannot be directly added using fractions.
The least common multiple of 4 and 3 is 12, so they can have the same denominator of 12.
1%2F4+=+3%2F12
1%2F3+=+4%2F12
So...
1%2F4%2B1%2F3+=+3%2F12%2B4%2F12+=+7%2F12
.
In this case, you're trying to add 9 3/4 + 8 5/6.
The least common multiple of 4 and 6 is 12. We can figure this out by multiplying 4*6=24, but we notice that 4=2*2 and 6=2*3, so 12 is the LEAST common multiple.
.
So...
9%2B3%2F4+=+9%2B9%2F12
8%2B5%2F6+=+8%2B10%2F12
.
+%289%2B9%2F12%29+%2B+%288%2B10%2F12%29+=+17%2B19%2F12
.
But 19/12 is more than 1, it is
+19%2F12+=+12%2F12+%2B+7%2F12+=+1%2B7%2F12
.
17%2B19%2F12+=+17+%2B+12%2F12+%2B+7%2F12+=+17+%2B+1+%2B+7%2F12+=+18%2B7%2F12
.
How do we know that 3/4 = 9/12?
.
Well, remember the idea is the 'least common multiple'.
.
To change 3/4 to 9/12 you simply look at how many times 4 goes into 12. 12/4 = 3
.
So you multiply 3/4 by 3/3 (Remember, you can multiply any number by 1, in this case 1 is 3/3.)
.
%283%2F3%29%2A%283%2F4%29+=+9%2F12
.
Similarly, how did 5/6 become 10/12?
It is the same process: 12/6 = 2
Multiply 5/6 by 1, which in this case is 2/2.
.
%282%2F2%29%2A%285%2F6%29=10%2F12
.
Done