Yes that is the most effective approach in reducing fractions and finding their lowest common denominator.
If the fractions do not all have the same denominator, find a common multiple of the denominators (ideally the lowest common multiple) and convert the fractions to equivalent fractions with this denominator. Now with all the fractions with the same denominator, add together the numerators. Finally, reduce the fraction to simplest terms, converting any improper fraction to a mixed number.
If the GCF of the numerator and denominator is 1, the fraction is said to be in its simplest form.
Finding the GCF of the numerator and the denominator of a fraction and dividing them both by it will give you the simplest form of that fraction. Finding the LCM of unlike denominators and converting them to it will make it possible to add and subtract unlike fractions.
Knowing the LCM will help when adding or subtracting unlike fractions. By finding the LCM of the denominators, (called the lowest common denominator) you can convert unlike to like fractions and proceed with the adding or subtracting. Knowing the GCF helps reduce a fraction. By finding the GCF of the numerator and the denominator and dividing both of them by it, you can reduce a fraction to its lowest terms (simplest form). If the GCF is 1, the fraction is in its simplest form. You can successfully multiply fractions without knowing the GCF or LCM.
If the numerator and denominator of a fraction have a common factor (except for '1'), divide both numerator and denominator by their common factor. The fraction is in the simplest form when the numerator and denominator have no common factors.
Make sure the denominators of all the fractions are common.Add all numerators.Reduce the final fraction to its simplest form.Convert improper fraction to mixed number if needed.
An improper fraction is already in it's simplest form as long as in the fraction part the denominator is bigger then the numerator.
When adding and subtracting unlike fractions, it is necessary to find a least common denominator. It's the same process as finding an LCM. You can simplify a fraction by finding the GCF of the numerator and denominator and dividing them both by it.
Find the GCF of the numerator and the denominator. Divide them both by it. If the GCF is 1, the fraction is in its simplest form.
They have the same numerator (1) but different denominators. Since the numerator is 1 in each fraction, it cannot be simplified therefore each unit fraction is in its simplest form. Then, because the denominators of any two of them are different the fractions must be different.
Find the GCF of the numerator and the denominator and divide them both by it. If the GCF is 1, the fraction is in its simplest form.
Find the GCF of the numerator and denominator and divide them both by it. If the GCF is 1, the fraction is in its simplest form.