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How to Add 1/8 + 1/16

A fraction is a number in two parts. The lower number of the fraction is the denominator and the top one is the numerator. Fraction addition depends on the denominators. When the denominators are equal, they are combined as one and the numerators are then added together. When the denominators are different, as with addition of 1/8 to 1/16, a common denominator must be calculated before the fractions are added.

Instructions

- 1
  Multiply the denominator and numerator of 1/8 by 2 to obtain a common denominator. Multiplying 1 by 2 results in 2, and multiplying 8 by 2 results in 16. The equation, which began as 1/8 + 1/16, now becomes 2/16 + 1/16.
- 2
  Combine the two like denominators into one. Since both denominators are now 16, the equation can be written as (2 + 1) / 16.
- 3
  Add the two numerators. Adding 1 to 2 results in 3. The answer is now a single fraction that reads 3/16.

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