How do you find the least common denominator of two rational expressions?

Answer 1

You could A: list out multiples of the denominators until you find one that is in each list. Example: 1/2, 1/3, 1/4

2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12

3, 6, 9, 12

4, 8, 12

12 is in each list, therefore it is the least common denominator. You could also B: Find the prime factorization, or finding it's factorization in prime numbers. It is achieved like this:

1/2, 1/3, 1/4

2: 2

3: 3

4: 2*2

You then multiply all of the numbers together, like so:

2*3*2*2= 24

HOWEVER: If there are two numbers in the same column

(2

3

2)

like the twos, you take one of them out, leaving you with 2*3*2 which equals 12. Either of these ways work, and they get the same answer every time.