Final answer:
When adding or subtracting fractional coefficients, we need to use the idea of a common denominator. By finding the common denominator, we can rewrite the fractions so that they have the same denominator, which allows us to add or subtract the numerators.
Step-by-step explanation:
When adding or subtracting fractional coefficients, we need to use the idea of a common denominator. The common denominator is the same number that is used as the denominator for both fractions. By finding the common denominator, we can rewrite the fractions so that they have the same denominator, which allows us to add or subtract the numerators.
For example, if we have the fractions 1/4 and 3/8, we can find the common denominator by multiplying the denominators together, which in this case is 32. Then, we can rewrite the fractions as 8/32 and 12/32. Now that the fractions have the same denominator, we can add the numerators to get 20/32 or simplify it to 5/8.