How do you find the least common denominator of these fractions?

Question

I know how do do it with fractions such as 1/4 and 7/12 but when there are variables I get confused.Wondering how to solve these:

1.  11/24 and 7/8x

2.   6/7x and 5/12y

3.   13/16x(squared)y and 3/16y(cubed)

4.   5/6x(squared) and 3/16y(cubed)

Thank you SO much for helping me!!! xx💖

 

Answer 1

Eleanor, if you in fact have variables in your denominator, like your first example, 11/24 and 7/8x, your common denominator would be 24x, and you'd have 11x/24x and 21/24x.

 

If the variable is simply next to your fraction, it is a factor in youf term and, thus, part of the numerator, so 11/24 and 7/8x becomes 11/24 and 7x/8, so your common denominator is 24 and you have 11/24 and 21x/24.

 

For your second example, if the variables are part of the denominator, your common denominator is 84xy, and you have 72y/84xy and 35x/84xy. If not, your common denominator is 84 and you simply have 72x/84 and 35y/84.

 

I hope this makes sense!