Adding Fractions: 1/3 + 1/5 + 1/2
When working with fractions, it's essential to know how to add them together. In this article, we'll explore how to add 1/3, 1/5, and 1/2, and simplify the resulting fraction.
Step 1: Find the Least Common Multiple (LCM)
To add these fractions, we need to find the least common multiple (LCM) of their denominators, which are 3, 5, and 2. The LCM of 3, 5, and 2 is 30. So, we'll convert each fraction to have a denominator of 30.
Step 2: Convert the Fractions
Convert 1/3
To convert 1/3 to have a denominator of 30, we'll multiply both the numerator and denominator by 10:
1/3 = 10/30
Convert 1/5
To convert 1/5 to have a denominator of 30, we'll multiply both the numerator and denominator by 6:
1/5 = 6/30
Convert 1/2
To convert 1/2 to have a denominator of 30, we'll multiply both the numerator and denominator by 15:
1/2 = 15/30
Step 3: Add the Fractions
Now that all the fractions have the same denominator, we can add them:
10/30 + 6/30 + 15/30 = 31/30
Simplifying the Result
The resulting fraction is 31/30. Since the numerator (31) is greater than the denominator (30), we can simplify the fraction further by dividing both numbers by their greatest common divisor (GCD), which is 1. Therefore, the simplified result is:
31/30
And that's the result of adding 1/3, 1/5, and 1/2 in fraction form!