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common denominator
What is a common denominator?
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A common denominator is a shared multiple of the denominators of two or more fractions. In mathematics, fractions with different denominators cannot be directly added or subtracted. To perform operations like addition or subtraction with fractions, it is necessary to find a common denominator, which is a common multiple of the denominators of the fractions involved.
For example, let’s say you have the fractions 1/3 and 1/4. The denominators are 3 and 4, respectively. To find a common denominator, you need to find a number that is divisible by both 3 and 4. In this case, the number 12 is a common multiple of 3 and 4. Therefore, you can express both fractions with a denominator of 12: 4/12 and 3/12.
Once you have the fractions with a common denominator, you can perform operations like addition or subtraction. In this case, 4/12 + 3/12 equals 7/12.
Finding a common denominator allows for easier comparison and calculation of fractions by aligning their denominators, making them compatible for arithmetic operations.