Question

How do you simplify `5 7/8 + 3 5/12`?

Answer 1

`9color(white)(,) 7/24`

Explanation:

Split it into 2 parts.

`color(green)(color(blue)("Part 1: ")->5+3=8)`
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`color(blue)("Part 2: ")->7/8+5/12`

You can not DIRECTLY add or subtract fractions unless the bottom numbers (denominators) are the same.

Multiply by 1 and you do not change the value. However, 1 comes in many forms

`color(green)( [7/8color(red)(xx1)]+[5/12color(red)(xx1)] color(white)("dddd")->color(white)("dddd") [7/8color(red)(xx3/3)]+[5/12color(red)(xx2/2)] )`

`color(green)(color(white)("ddddddddddddddddddddd")->color(white)("dddd")[color(white)("d") 21/24color(white)("d")]color(white)("d")+color(white)("d")[color(white)("d")10/24color(white)("d")] )`

`color(green)(color(white)("ddddddddddddddddddddd")->color(white)("dddd")31/24color(white)("dd")=color(white)("d")1 7/24`
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`color(blue)("Putting together Part1 and Part 2")`

`color(white)("dddddddddddddddd")8+1 7/24color(white)("d") = color(white)("d")9 7/24`