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30 votes
30 votes
Does 1/2 plus 1/3 equal 2/5?

User AstroSharp
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1 Answer

20 votes
20 votes

First fraction: 1/2

Second fraction: 1/3

Let's add them, recalling the rules for adding fractions:

1. Let's use the common denominator, using the Least Common Multiple between 2 and 3, as follows:

Multiples of 2: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20

Multiples of 3: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21

Common multiples: 6, 12, 18

Least common multiple = 6

2. Therefore, we have now

1/2 + 1/3 = 3/6 + 2/6 (First fraction multiplied by 3 and second fraction multiplied by 2 to have common denominator)

3/6 + 2/6 = (3 + 2)/6 = 5/6

The result is 5/6, not 2/5

User Grzegorz Piwowarek
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2.5k points