What Is 1/2 + 5/8?

Step-by-step solution

The problem

1. Write both fractions over 8. 8 is a multiple of 2:
   2 × 4 = 8
   So 8 is the least common denominator. Multiply the top and bottom of each fraction by the same number, so its value doesn't change.

   \frac{1}{2} = \frac{1 \times 4}{2 \times 4} = \frac{4}{8}
   = \textcolor{#0b5c56}{\frac{4}{8}} + \frac{5}{8}

2. Add the numerators. Keep the denominator 8.

   = \frac{4 + 5}{8} = \textcolor{#0b5c56}{\frac{9}{8}}

3. Check that it can't be simplified. 9 and 8 have no common factor other than 1, so this is the simplest form.

   \text{GCF}(9, 8) = 1

4. Write it as a mixed number. Divide: 8 goes into 9 1 time with 1 left over. The whole number is 1, the remainder 1 becomes the numerator, and the denominator stays 8.

   9 \div 8 = 1\ \text{R}\ 1
   = \textcolor{#0b5c56}{1\frac{1}{8}}

All the working together