Question 254000


2 3/4 + 1 1/8
<pre><font size = 4 color = "indigo"><b>
Here's a better way. Start by writing one fraction under
the other and drawing a line underneath:

2 3/4
1 1/8
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Get a common denominator of 8 and rewrite the fraction
parts with the common denominator:

 2 3/4 = 2 6/8 
+1 1/8 = 1 1/8
--------------

Add the whole parts and the fraction parts:

 2 3/4 = 2 6/8 
+1 1/8 = 1 1/8
--------------
         3 7/8

That's the answer in this case, but sometimes the fraction
part is top heavy (improper) and you have go another step.
[Also when you do subtraction this way, sometimes you have
to borrow from the whole part to make the top fraction bigger
than the bottom fraction.)

Edwin</pre>