Question

A student is trying to find the sum of 5/6 + 3/4 + 1/5 They first tried to use 24 as a common denominator. Why does 24 not work as a common denominator?

Answer 1

Answer:

24 does not work as a common denominator because it is not the Lowest Common Multiple of 6, 4 and 5.

Step-by-step explanation:

In that above question, we are told that:

A student is trying to find the sum of 5/6 + 3/4 + 1/5

Step 1

The first step would be to find the Lowest Common Multiple of the denominators (6, 4, 5).

Lowest Common Multiple can be defined as the number that is the lowest quantity of the multiple of 2 or 3 number.

The lowest common multiple for 6, 4, 5 = 60. This is that number that the 3 denominators can be divided in

Hence,

5/6 + 3/4 + 1/5

= 5 × 10 + 3 × 15 + 12× 1/60

= 50 + 45 + 12/60

= 107/60

= 1 47/60

24 does not work because it is not the Lowest Common Multiple of 6, 4 and 5.

The lowest common multiple for the 3 denominators = 60, therefore 60 should be used.