Adding Fractions: Calculate 2/8 + 1/4 in Assignment Progress

Fraction Addition with Common Denominators

Sarah receives a school assignment.

In the first hour, she does 28 \frac{2}{8} of the work, while in the second hour she completes 14 \frac{1}{4} of the work.


How much of the assignment does Sarah do in total?

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Step-by-step written solution

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1

Understand the problem

Sarah receives a school assignment.

In the first hour, she does 28 \frac{2}{8} of the work, while in the second hour she completes 14 \frac{1}{4} of the work.


How much of the assignment does Sarah do in total?

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we will add the fractions of the work Sarah completed in the first and second hours:

  • Step 1: Identify the fractions: Sarah completed 28 \frac{2}{8} of the work in the first hour and 14 \frac{1}{4} of the work in the second hour.
  • Step 2: Convert the fractions to have the same denominator. The denominators are 8 and 4, respectively. The least common denominator (LCD) of 8 and 4 is 8.
  • Step 3: Convert 14 \frac{1}{4} to a fraction with a denominator of 8. Since 14=28 \frac{1}{4} = \frac{2}{8} , we convert it as follows: 14=1×24×2=28 \frac{1}{4} = \frac{1 \times 2}{4 \times 2} = \frac{2}{8}
  • Step 4: Add the fractions with the common denominator: 28+28=2+28=48 \frac{2}{8} + \frac{2}{8} = \frac{2 + 2}{8} = \frac{4}{8}
  • Step 5: Simplify the resulting fraction. Divide the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor, which is 4: 48=4÷48÷4=12 \frac{4}{8} = \frac{4 \div 4}{8 \div 4} = \frac{1}{2}

Therefore, Sarah completed 12 \frac{1}{2} of the assignment in total.

3

Final Answer

12 \frac{1}{2}

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Rule: Find the least common denominator before adding fractions
  • Technique: Convert 14 \frac{1}{4} to 28 \frac{2}{8} by multiplying by 22 \frac{2}{2}
  • Check: Simplify final answer: 48=12 \frac{4}{8} = \frac{1}{2} by dividing by GCD of 4 ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Adding denominators instead of finding common denominator
    Don't add 28+14 \frac{2}{8} + \frac{1}{4} by doing 2+1=3 and 8+4=12 to get 312 \frac{3}{12} ! This gives the wrong result because you're not adding equal-sized pieces. Always convert to the same denominator first, then add only the numerators.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Complete the following exercise:

\( \frac{1}{2}:\frac{3}{5}=\text{?} \)

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

Why can't I just add the numerators and denominators separately?

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Because fractions represent parts of a whole, and you can only add parts that are the same size! 28 \frac{2}{8} and 14 \frac{1}{4} are different-sized pieces, so you must make them the same size first.

How do I find the least common denominator?

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List the multiples of each denominator and find the smallest number that appears in both lists. For 8 and 4: multiples of 8 are 8, 16, 24... and multiples of 4 are 4, 8, 12... So LCD = 8.

What if the LCD is bigger than both original denominators?

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That's normal! For example, if adding 16+14 \frac{1}{6} + \frac{1}{4} , the LCD would be 12. You'll need to convert both fractions to have denominator 12 before adding.

Do I always need to simplify my final answer?

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Yes, always simplify! An answer like 48 \frac{4}{8} isn't in its simplest form. Divide both numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor to get 12 \frac{1}{2} .

Can the answer be greater than 1 when adding fractions?

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Absolutely! If Sarah had completed 34 \frac{3}{4} and 34 \frac{3}{4} of her work, the total would be 64=112 \frac{6}{4} = 1\frac{1}{2} , meaning she did more than the full assignment!

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