# Math Help - Fraction and addition - problem?

1. ## Fraction and addition - problem?

7
12
+
8
15

I used the LCD (least common denominator method) and itresulted in,

FLAPJACKS

35
60
and
32
60

I added the nominators together and got

67
60

Now what do I do with this fraction? To make it make senseand be a proper fraction? I tried myself and got

67
127

That was by adding 67 and 60 together then just putting the60 back under.

2. ## Re: Fraction and addition - problem?

That is very badly written. If you don't want to use LaTeX, at least write it as 7/12+ 8/15

Yes 67/60 is the correct answer. Whether you write that as 67/60 or "1 and 7/60" depends upon what you want to with it, which you prefer and, perhaps most importantly, what you teacher wants.

But when you say "That was by adding 67 and 60 together then just putting the60 back under." I have absolutely no idea why you would add the numerator and denominator. There NO arithmetic operation that requires that.

3. ## Re: Fraction and addition - problem?

Originally Posted by HallsofIvy
That is very badly written. If you don't want to use LaTeX, at least write it as 7/12+ 8/15

Yes 67/60 is the correct answer. Whether you write that as 67/60 or "1 and 7/60" depends upon what you want to with it, which you prefer and, perhaps most importantly, what you teacher wants.

But when you say "That was by adding 67 and 60 together then just putting the60 back under." I have absolutely no idea why you would add the numerator and denominator. There NO arithmetic operation that requires that.
What is LaTex? I was going to use / but I figured it might be confused with division which is quite a stupid idea since I mentioned fractions in the title. Well I have not had a teacher in nearly 4 years, I'm really awful with math but I've pretty much had to start my maths education starting from basics upwards in the past month due to a test to join a job. I should've listened in school but my class was very bad due to us being in the bottom set and all, I guess you would know if you are a retired teacher?

I remember a YouTube video saying something about adding them together, must've of been with a different fraction problem, I can't remember.

4. ## Re: Fraction and addition - problem?

Originally Posted by Subliminalmessage
What is LaTex? I
It is code.
[TEX]\frac{7}{12}+\frac{8}{15} [/TEX] gives $\frac{7}{12}+\frac{8}{15}$

5. ## Re: Fraction and addition - problem?

I've always found it's a lot more time efficient to go by the following expression:

$\frac{a}{b} + \frac{c}{d} = \frac{ad + bc}{bd}$

Arithmetic example:

$\frac{2}{3} + \frac {3}{4} = \frac{ (2 \times 4) + (3 \times 3)}{(3 \times 4)} = \frac{8 + 9}{12} = \frac{17}{12}$

Algebraic example:

$\frac {(x + 2)^2}{8xyz} + \frac {(x+4)^2}{5zy^2} = \frac{\left[(x + 2)^2 \times 5zy^2\right] + \left[8xyz \times(x+4)^2\right]}{8xyz \times 5zy^2}$

Notice, it's more difficult to spot the LCD with algebra.

6. ## Re: Fraction and addition - problem?

I don't have a clue what algerbra is really, I've only ever touched on it once or twice and that was years ago. Please give me a rough idea on what it is about? Why is it needed and does it deserve the title of being hard and complicated?

7. ## Re: Fraction and addition - problem?

67/60 is correct, but you're left with a improper fraction. It really depends on what the question or teacher wants. In order to change that from a improper fractions you need to divide. 67 divided by 60 is 1, with a remainder of 7. Keep the denominator and you would have 1 7/60.

8. ## Re: Fraction and addition - problem?

Originally Posted by Subliminalmessage
I don't have a clue what algebra is really, I've only ever touched on it once or twice and that was years ago. Please give me a rough idea on what it is about? Why is it needed and does it deserve the title of being hard and complicated?
If I were you, I would go and find an elementary book on high school maths with a cumbersome number of problems to solve. That's what I did. Keep returning to it, iron out your mistakes and 'things' start to become second nature. Then you are in a position to move on to the next level, and so on.

I'm not really the one to answer that question; I'm still a rookie. All I know is, maths can solve a lot of problems. I'm an engineer student. I wouldn't be able to survive on my course if I didn't put a significant amount of hours into maths associated with my spare time.

From a rookie's point of view, algebra can solve an unknown quantity (s).

For example, consider a simple equation:

$4x + 2 = 18$

What is x?

$4x = 18 - 2$

$4x = 16$

$x = \frac{16}{4}$

$x = 4$

Now you can sub in this x value into the inital equation $4x + 2 = 18$ because it is the solution.

Therefore:

$(4 \times 4) + 2 = 18$

$16 + 2 = 18$

$18 = 18$