First, let's make 1 1/4 into a improper fraction. So 1 whole is 4/4 and then add the 1/4. So 4/4+1/4 is 5/4. Now let's make 3 into the same common denominator. So 3=3/1. Now let's use the identity property to multiply it by 4, since we want the common denominator to be 4. 3/1 x 4/4 is 12/4. Now we can finally add. When we add, we only add the numerators. So 12/4+5/4 is 17/4. The fraction symbol is another way saying division. So 17 divided by 4 is 4 r 1. We make the remainder into a fraction and use 4 as a whole number. So our answer is 4 1/4.
