How does one find the common denominator in a fraction?

1 Answer
Apr 16, 2016

See explanation.

Explanation:

The simpliest way to find the common denominator of set of fractions is to multiply all denominators.

Example:

The common denominator of #1/2,1/3,1/4# can be #2*3*4=24#

As you see the common denominator found this way is not always the lowest one. The lowest common denominator of these values is #12#

For any 2 fractions the lowest common denominator can be calculated as:

#lcd(a.b)=(a*b)/gcd(a,b)#

where #gcd# is the greatest commoin divisor of numbers #a# and #b#.