What is 1/3+ 3/4+ 1/2?

1 Answer
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Mar 29, 2016

1/3 + 3/4 + 1/2 = 19/12

Explanation:

To add proper fractions, we need to first make their denominator identical. This can be done in one step, but to demonstrate, we will add the fractions one by one.

First, we add 1/3 and 3/4. To do so, we need them to have a common denominator. Therefore, we will find a common multiple of 3 and 4. That would be 3xx4 = 12. You can easily verify that 12 must have both 3 and 4 as factors. So,

1/3 + 3/4 = (1xx4)/(3xx4) + (3xx3)/(4xx3)

= 4/12 + 9/12

= (4+9)/12

= 13/12

Next, we add 1/2 to 13/12. Again, we need a common denominator. That would be 2xx12 = 24. You can verify that 24 has both 12 and 2 as factors. However, the number 12 has also both 12 and 2 as factors.

It is easier to deal with smaller numbers, so we use 12 instead of 24.

13/12 + 1/2 = 13/12 + (1xx6)/(2xx6)

= 13/12 + 6/12

= (13 + 6)/12

= 19/12

Therefore,

1/3 + 3/4 + 1/2 = 19/12

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