Adding Fractions: 1/3 + 1/8
When it comes to adding fractions, it's essential to have a common denominator. In this case, we want to add 1/3 and 1/8. To do this, we need to find the least common multiple (LCM) of 3 and 8.
Finding the Least Common Multiple (LCM)
The multiples of 3 are: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, ... The multiples of 8 are: 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, ...
As you can see, the first number that appears in both lists is 24. Therefore, the LCM of 3 and 8 is 24.
Converting Fractions to Have a Common Denominator
Now that we have the LCM, we need to convert both fractions to have a denominator of 24.
For 1/3: We need to multiply both the numerator and the denominator by 8 to get a denominator of 24:
1 x 8 = 8
3 x 8 = 24
So, 1/3 = 8/24
For 1/8: We need to multiply both the numerator and the denominator by 3 to get a denominator of 24:
1 x 3 = 3
8 x 3 = 24
So, 1/8 = 3/24
Adding the Fractions
Now that we have both fractions with a denominator of 24, we can add them:
8/24 + 3/24 = 11/24
The Result
Therefore, the result of adding 1/3 and 1/8 is 11/24.
