Solve the following exercise:
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Solve the following exercise:
To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:
Let's work through each step:
Step 1: The denominators are 5, 15, and 3. The LCM of these numbers is 15, as it is the smallest number that all denominators divide evenly.
Step 2:
Step 3: Subtract the fractions:
Simplify by dividing both numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor (GCD), which is 3:
Therefore, the solution to the problem is .
\( \frac{1}{3}+\frac{1}{4}= \)
Because fractions represent parts of a whole! means 7 pieces of size 1/5, while means 7 pieces of size 1/15. You can't subtract different-sized pieces directly - you need to make them the same size first.
List the multiples of each: 5: (5, 10, 15, 20...), 15: (15, 30...), 3: (3, 6, 9, 12, 15...). The smallest number that appears in all lists is 15!
Always simplify! Find the GCD of numerator and denominator. For , both 9 and 15 divide by 3, giving us in lowest terms.
You could, but it's often messier! , , . Working with fractions keeps everything exact and avoids rounding errors.
Convert your answer to the common denominator: . Then verify: ✓
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