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Adding and subtracting fractions depends on finding a common denominator. The least common denominator is the least common multiple of the denominators that occur in the computation. Find least common denominators and compute the following additions and subtractions. \( \begin{array}{ll}\text { (a) } \frac{3}{4}+\frac{1}{6} & \text { (b) } \frac{7}{9}+\frac{2}{21} \\ \text { (c) } \frac{8}{9}-\frac{4}{11} & \text { (d) } \frac{9}{20}-\frac{1}{4} \\ \text { (a) } \frac{3}{4}+\frac{1}{6}=\square \\ \text { (Simplify your answer. Type a whole number or fraction.) }\end{array} \)

Ask by Bradley Martinez. in the United States
Mar 09,2025

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**(a)** \[ \frac{3}{4} + \frac{1}{6} = \frac{11}{12} \] **(b)** \[ \frac{7}{9} + \frac{2}{21} = \frac{55}{63} \] **(c)** \[ \frac{8}{9} - \frac{4}{11} = \frac{52}{99} \] **(d)** \[ \frac{9}{20} - \frac{1}{4} = \frac{1}{5} \]

Solution

**(a)** The denominators are 4 and 6. The least common multiple is \[ \text{LCM}(4,6)=12. \] Rewrite each fraction with denominator 12: \[ \frac{3}{4}=\frac{3\times3}{4\times3}=\frac{9}{12}\quad \text{and}\quad \frac{1}{6}=\frac{1\times2}{6\times2}=\frac{2}{12}. \] Now add the fractions: \[ \frac{9}{12}+\frac{2}{12}=\frac{11}{12}. \] **(b)** The denominators are 9 and 21. The least common multiple is \[ \text{LCM}(9,21)=63. \] Rewrite each fraction with denominator 63: \[ \frac{7}{9}=\frac{7\times7}{9\times7}=\frac{49}{63}\quad \text{and}\quad \frac{2}{21}=\frac{2\times3}{21\times3}=\frac{6}{63}. \] Now add the fractions: \[ \frac{49}{63}+\frac{6}{63}=\frac{55}{63}. \] **(c)** The denominators are 9 and 11. The least common multiple is \[ \text{LCM}(9,11)=99. \] Rewrite each fraction with denominator 99: \[ \frac{8}{9}=\frac{8\times11}{9\times11}=\frac{88}{99}\quad \text{and}\quad \frac{4}{11}=\frac{4\times9}{11\times9}=\frac{36}{99}. \] Now subtract the fractions: \[ \frac{88}{99}-\frac{36}{99}=\frac{52}{99}. \] **(d)** The denominators are 20 and 4. The least common denominator is 20 since 4 divides 20. Rewrite the second fraction: \[ \frac{1}{4}=\frac{1\times5}{4\times5}=\frac{5}{20}. \] Now subtract: \[ \frac{9}{20}-\frac{5}{20}=\frac{4}{20}=\frac{1}{5}. \]

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To find the least common denominator (LCD) for each pair of fractions, we first identify their denominators and then calculate the least common multiple. For part (a) \(\frac{3}{4} + \frac{1}{6}\), the denominators are 4 and 6. The least common multiple of 4 and 6 is 12, making the LCD. Now, we can rewrite the fractions: \(\frac{3}{4} = \frac{9}{12}\) and \(\frac{1}{6} = \frac{2}{12}\). So, \(\frac{3}{4} + \frac{1}{6} = \frac{9}{12} + \frac{2}{12} = \frac{11}{12}\). Moving on to part (b) \(\frac{7}{9} + \frac{2}{21}\), the denominators are 9 and 21. The least common multiple is 63. Rewriting the fractions gives us: \(\frac{7}{9} = \frac{49}{63}\) and \(\frac{2}{21} = \frac{6}{63}\). Thus, \(\frac{7}{9} + \frac{2}{21} = \frac{49}{63} + \frac{6}{63} = \frac{55}{63}\). For part (c) \(\frac{8}{9} - \frac{4}{11}\), 9 and 11 have an LCD of 99. Rewriting yields: \(\frac{8}{9} = \frac{88}{99}\) and \(\frac{4}{11} = \frac{36}{99}\). So, \(\frac{8}{9} - \frac{4}{11} = \frac{88}{99} - \frac{36}{99} = \frac{52}{99}\). Lastly, in part (d) \(\frac{9}{20} - \frac{1}{4}\), the denominators are 20 and 4. The LCD here is 20. Rewriting gives us: \(\frac{9}{20} = \frac{9}{20}\) and \(\frac{1}{4} = \frac{5}{20}\). Therefore, \(\frac{9}{20} - \frac{1}{4} = \frac{9}{20} - \frac{5}{20} = \frac{4}{20} = \frac{1}{5}\) after simplification. So here are your results: (a) \(\frac{3}{4} + \frac{1}{6} = \frac{11}{12}\) (b) \(\frac{7}{9} + \frac{2}{21} = \frac{55}{63}\) (c) \(\frac{8}{9} - \frac{4}{11} = \frac{52}{99}\) (d) \(\frac{9}{20} - \frac{1}{4} = \frac{1}{5}\)

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