Combine Like Terms: Simplifying (4/7)x + (5/7)y + (3/4)x + (8/9)y

Fraction Addition with Unlike Variables

47x+57y+34x+89y=? \frac{4}{7}x+\frac{5}{7}y+\frac{3}{4}x+\frac{8}{9}y=\text{?}

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Step-by-step video solution

Watch the teacher solve the problem with clear explanations
00:00 Simplify the expression
00:03 Mark the appropriate variables
00:06 Use the commutative property and arrange the appropriate variables together
00:24 Multiply each fraction by the denominator of the other fraction to find the common denominator
00:27 Make sure to multiply both numerator and denominator
00:56 Collect terms, add with common denominator
01:27 Convert to mixed fractions
01:35 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

Follow each step carefully to understand the complete solution
1

Understand the problem

47x+57y+34x+89y=? \frac{4}{7}x+\frac{5}{7}y+\frac{3}{4}x+\frac{8}{9}y=\text{?}

2

Step-by-step solution

To solve this problem, we'll proceed as follows:

  • Step 1: Group the like terms involving x x and y y separately.
  • Step 2: Find a common denominator for the terms involving x x .
  • Step 3: Add the fractions to simplify the x x terms.
  • Step 4: Find a common denominator for the terms involving y y .
  • Step 5: Add the fractions to simplify the y y terms.
  • Step 6: Combine the simplified terms for x x and y y .

Now, let's perform these steps in detail:
Step 1: Identify and group the terms:
(47x+34x) \left(\frac{4}{7}x + \frac{3}{4}x\right) and (57y+89y) \left(\frac{5}{7}y + \frac{8}{9}y\right) .

Step 2: Find a common denominator for the x x -terms:
The denominators are 7 and 4. The least common denominator (LCD) is 28.

Step 3: Add the x x -terms:
47x=4428x=1628x\frac{4}{7}x = \frac{4 \cdot 4}{28}x = \frac{16}{28}x
34x=3728x=2128x\frac{3}{4}x = \frac{3 \cdot 7}{28}x = \frac{21}{28}x
Adding them gives 1628x+2128x=3728x=1928x\frac{16}{28}x + \frac{21}{28}x = \frac{37}{28}x = 1\frac{9}{28}x.

Step 4: Find a common denominator for the y y -terms:
The denominators are 7 and 9. The LCD is 63.

Step 5: Add the y y -terms:
57y=5963y=4563y\frac{5}{7}y = \frac{5 \cdot 9}{63}y = \frac{45}{63}y
89y=8763y=5663y\frac{8}{9}y = \frac{8 \cdot 7}{63}y = \frac{56}{63}y
Adding them gives 4563y+5663y=10163y=13863y\frac{45}{63}y + \frac{56}{63}y = \frac{101}{63}y = 1\frac{38}{63}y.

Step 6: Combine the simplified terms:
The final expression is 1928x+13863y 1\frac{9}{28}x + 1\frac{38}{63}y .

Therefore, the solution to the problem is 1928x+13863y 1\frac{9}{28}x + 1\frac{38}{63}y .

3

Final Answer

1928x+13863y 1\frac{9}{28}x+1\frac{38}{63}y

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic
  • Grouping Rule: Collect terms with same variables: x-terms and y-terms separately
  • LCD Technique: For 47x+34x \frac{4}{7}x + \frac{3}{4}x , find LCD(7,4) = 28
  • Verification: Convert mixed numbers back to improper fractions and check addition ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors
  • Adding coefficients without finding common denominators
    Don't just add numerators like 4 + 3 = 7 and denominators like 7 + 4 = 11 to get 711x \frac{7}{11}x = wrong answer! This ignores fraction rules completely. Always find the LCD first, convert each fraction, then add the numerators while keeping the common denominator.

Practice Quiz

Test your knowledge with interactive questions

Are the expressions the same or not?

\( 20x \)

\( 2\times10x \)

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

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

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That's not how fraction addition works! You need a common denominator first. Think of it like adding 12+13 \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{3} - you wouldn't get 25 \frac{2}{5} , you'd get 56 \frac{5}{6} .

How do I find the LCD of 7 and 4?

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List multiples: 7: 7, 14, 21, 28, 35... and 4: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28... The first number that appears in both lists is your LCD!

What's the difference between x-terms and y-terms?

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Like terms have exactly the same variable part. 47x \frac{4}{7}x and 34x \frac{3}{4}x are like terms (both have x), but x-terms and y-terms are different and cannot be combined.

Should I convert to mixed numbers or keep improper fractions?

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Both forms are correct! 3728x \frac{37}{28}x equals 1928x 1\frac{9}{28}x . Mixed numbers are often preferred because they're easier to visualize, but use whichever form your teacher requests.

Why is my LCD for the y-terms 63 and not something smaller?

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For denominators 7 and 9: since 7 and 9 share no common factors (they're relatively prime), their LCD is simply 7 × 9 = 63. There's no smaller number that both 7 and 9 divide into evenly.

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