5/8 + 1/2= 5/8+ 1 · 4/2 · 4 = 5/8+ 4/8 = 5 + 4/8= 9/8
It is suitable to adjust both fractions to a common equal, identical denominator for adding, subtracting, and comparing fractions. The common denominator you can calculate as the least common multiple of both denominators - is LCM(8, 2) = 8. It is enough to find the common denominator, not necessarily the lowest, by multiplying the denominators: 8 × 2 = 16. In the following intermediate step, it cannot further simplify the fraction result by canceling.
In other words - five-eighths plus one-half is nine-eighths.