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What Is 1/ 2 Plus 1/ 3?

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Rebecca Hunt Profile
Rebecca Hunt answered
This is actually a rather tricky one to work out. It is possible to do, though. In order to get the answer for 1/2 plus 1/3 you will need to start with the bottom numbers and find a number that both two and three fits into. The bottom number will be changed to a six and the top number will be changed by the same number. Once you have completed the calculations on the 1/2 the fraction will then become 3/6. The other fraction will change in a very similar way and it will then become 2/6. 

Now that the fractions have been changed the sum has now become 3/6 plus 2/6. This will mean that the answer is 5/6. 

Once you know how to do these sums it is actually quite an easy thing to work out as long as you take your time and work through it sensibly. 

You will need to follow the process from the first stage right through. The first part of the process is to work with the last common multiple of the denominators. These are the numbers on the bottoms of the fractions. Once you have worked this part out you then need to multiply the top number by the same value as that used for the bottom. Hopefully, these sums will be a bit clearer to you. They really are very easy when you are aware of what you actually have to do. 

When these sums are worked out in a logical order they are actually very easy to get the sum worked out. In order to be able to calculate this type of sum you will need to be able to do your times tables so that you can work out the new parts that make up the fractions for the sum.
Name Name Profile
Name Name answered
5/6.
1. Find the LCM of the two denominators
The LCM (Least Common Multiple) of 2 and 3 is 6
2. Then, for 1/2, multiply the top and bottom by 3
For 1/3, multiply the top and bottom by 2
Note: You are just changing the number into different forms.
(This is equivelant to doing 1/3*6/6 and 1/2*6/6) 6/6 is simply 1 (6/6 means 6 divided by 6)
3. Finally just add the numerators together: 3/6+2/6=5/6
Tricia Fullerton Profile
Tricia Fullerton , Additional info, answered

I believe the first two answers are very helpful although somewhat ambiguous in conveying how one arrives at the common denominator fraction. I am in no way implying that I can explain the whole process better, I just thought the person who originally asked the question may be uncertain as to how one begins with 1/2 and arrives at 3/6. So in addition to, and hopefully adding clarification to, calculating for common denominators I will show how I learned.

I will be referring to the top number of the fraction as the numerator, and the bottom as the denominator. The least common denominator as LCD.




1/2 +1/3 = ?

As explained in previous posts; to add fractions with unlike denominators you need to first find the least common multiple of both fractions denominators. So, some multiples of 2 are; 4,6,8,10,12, and of 3 are; 6,9,12,15,18. One can easily deduce the number 6 as the least multiple for both denominators. After determining the correct common denominator the next step is to solve for the numerator. This is where I thought it may have caused uncertainty in the previous explanations. Only because if one is unfamiliar with adding fractions then, I don't think one would fully understand the explanations given. So simply put, whatever you do to the denominator, you also must do to the numerator or, for each fraction respectfully, the number you have to multiply the denominator by to reach 6 is the same number you have to multiply the numerator by. 🔁

For 1/2 to become x/6, I would say; two (denominator) goes into          six (LCD) three times, and three times one (numerator) equals 3. 🔁 Or written 1/2*3/3=3/6      Therefore the fraction for 1/2 is 3/6.

Another way of understanding exactly what you are doing here is to understand that there are many other ways to convey a half or 1/2. That is, by using different numerators and denominators yet still representing the same fraction or part of ie; 2/4, 3/6, 4/8, 5/10, 6/12...etc... As also with 1/3,...2/6, 3/9, 4/12, 5/15, 6/18...etc... You will likely find other common denominators between the two fractions but the least common of which are 3/6 and 2/6.

Now you can simply add the numerators 3+2=5 and maintain the common denominator which is 6.

        1/2 or x/6 + 1/3 or x/6=                                                                    .....        🔁          🔁                                    .            3/6    +    2/6 = 5/6

Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
5/6
Vikash Swaroop Profile
Vikash Swaroop answered
If you want to add 1/2 and 1/3, the process is quite easy and the total you will get at the end of the process is equal to 5/6.
     
The process you need to follow is quite simple and first of all you need to take the least common multiple of both the denominators and which stands at six and then you will have to divide the result by two and then multiply it by nominator one. The result is three.
     
The next step would be to again recur the process with the next denominator three also and in this case the result will be two. Now you just have to add both the nominators which give you the result five and also you have the end result 5/6.
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
5/6
Anonymous Profile
Anonymous answered
1/2 = 0,5
1/3 = 0,3
1/2+1/3 = 0,5+0,3 = 0,8
0,8 = 4*0,2
4*0,2 = 4*1/5 = 4/5

1/2+1/3 = 4/5

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