Example of addition of Fractions:

105/64 + 15/32 + 1/6 =____

would require the denominator to be equal to 64 x 32 x 6 = 12,288. This type of number is very hard to use.

In the earlier example

1/3 + 8/6 = was shown to equal

6/18 +24/18 = 30/18

You remembered that both 30 and 18 can be divided by 6; if this is done:

30 ÷ 6/18÷ 6 = 5/3

Through doing this we arrive at a smaller and more useful number: 5/3 takes the place of 30/18.

The sum of two or more fractions decreased to its simplest form contains the smallest possible denominator common to both fractions. This denominator is known as the least common denominator (LCD).