Okay, I really don\'t do well in Algebra at all and I really need some step-by-s

Question

Okay, I really don't do well in Algebra at all and I really need some step-by-step instructions on how to find the least common denominator in a set of fractions. Literally, I won't be able to understand this if I don't have step-by-step instructions on how this works. Here are a set of fractions to help me with. :) I also need to know how to work out rational numbers. Like, how am I supposed to get the rational number out of fractions? So confusing to me!!!!Please make sure that it is step-by-step. (detailed:)

Kyla~

Explanation / Answer

Ok: When looking for the least common denominator, you're looking for the smallest number by which ALL of your fractions can be multiplied to in order to add or subtract them from each other. For instance, let's look at 5/8 and 1/2. What number would they have in common? 8 has the following factors (1X8, 8X1, 4X2 and 2X4) 2 has the following factors (1X2 and 2x1) 2X4 = 8 8X1 = 8 So the 5/8th's can stay like it is, and you will multiply your 1/2 by 4/4 which will give you 4/8 (it's still 1/2, just in a different form. Then you can add 4/8 + 5/8 together for 9/8 or 1 1/8. If we look at 7/12, 2/3, 5/8, and 1/2 - well we can't have 12 as the least common denominator, because 8 won't divide into it. It's always a good attempt to double (or in some cases triple) the largest denominator, in the hopes that the other denominators will be a factor of it. So in this case, let's double 12. That gives us 14/24 What are the factors of 24? 24X1 1X24 12X2

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