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Common Denominator

Denominator Example

Last updated date: 21st Mar 2023
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A common denominator is useful for conducting a number of mathematical operations on numbers. A crucial concept in Mathematics is the addition and subtraction of fractions. Fractions or a fractional number has 2 parts that include a numerator (the number on top) and a denominator (the number below). That said, the fractions with the same denominators are called common denominators. Consider the following denominator examples: 3/7 + 5/7 = 3. In these cases, the denominators in the fraction are common, thus, it is also easy to calculate the answer.

Methods to Find a Common Denominator?

Want to know how to find the common denominator easily? There may be instances where you would be asked to add fractions with different denominators like 5/7 + 9/13. In such times, you are required to determine the common denominator and then solve the fractions. Following are the two methods to find the common denominator:

1. By cross multiplication

2. By finding the least common multiple (LCM)

When we solve for the common denominator using the LCM (least common multiple) method, you find the LCM of the given numbers. In this equation, the LCM is 6. Thus, the equation becomes 1/3 + 1/6 = (1 x 2 + 1)/6 = (2 + 1)/6 = 3/6 = 1/2. However, If you the cross multiplication method, you will find the solution as: 1/3 + 1/6 = 2/6 + 1/6 = (2 + 1)/6 = 3/6 = 1/2

How to Find the Least Common Denominator?

The least common denominator depends upon the type of denominator. For denominators having co-prime numbers, the least common denominator is the product of the two denominators. In addition, the least common denominator is the LCM of the two given denominators. Having said that, let us take two denominator values: 6 and 4.  As said, the least common denominator is the least common multiple of 4 and 6, which is the number 12.

Now, taking the case of numbers 3 and 4. In such an instance, neither 3 nor 4 are factors of each other. Therefore, you can calculate the value of the common denominator simply by multiplying both numbers and you obtain 12.

What is the Greatest Common Denominator?

In mathematics, the Greatest Common Denominator of two or more fractions, which are not zero (0), is the biggest positive integer which divides each of the given denominators.

Can a Common Denominator be 0 or 1?

For a fraction having a common denominator of zero (0), it becomes undefined. Whereas, for fractions with only whole numbers as numerators and 1 as a denominator, the common denominator will be 1. In the instance of whole numbers being taken into account as fractions, the common denominator is 1.

Fractions Without a Common Denominator

We can get the common denominators by multiplying both numerator (the top number) and denominator (the bottom number) by the same amount.

For example, take out the addition of two fractions which do not have a similar denominator:

Firstly, multiply 2/5 by 2/2  to obtain 4/10 .

Now, multiply the 2nd fraction 1/2 by 5/5  to obtain 5/10 .

The new fractions with a common denominator are 10.

Add the two fractions 4/10  + 5/10 , you will get  9/10.

Solved Examples on Common Denominator

Example:

Can you help Alex find the common denominator for the fractions 7/5 and 4/3?

Solution:

The denominators of the given fractions are 5 and 3 respectively. Thus, the LCM of 5 and 3 is 15 and 15 is the common denominator of the two given fractions.

Therefore, the common denominator for 7/5 and 4/3 2/3 is 15.

Example:

Find out if the rational numbers -9/12 and 21/-28 equal?

Solution:

The two given fractions can be simplified as:

-9/12 = -3/4

21/-28 = 3/-4 = -3/4.

Seeing that, the simplified value of the given two fractions is the same, thus, the two rational numbers are also equal.

∴ We can conclude that the two rational numbers -9/12 and 21/-28 are equal.

Fun Fact

The LCM of the denominators helps us in getting the common denominator.

FAQs on Common Denominator

1. What is a Common Denominator?

Answer: Two or more fractions with the same denominator are called a common denominator. The common denominator aids to easily conduct the numeric calculations. The number given in the lower part of a fraction is referred to as a denominator. The denominator explains to you how many equal parts an item is divided into.

Understanding the concept using a denominator example, we have a figure below that shows 4 slices in the first pizza. So, it is denoted as 1, i.e., a whole. When we take off one slice, we are left with 3 out of 4 slices. Thus, the fraction of the remaining pizza slices is given as 3/4. This also implies that a 1/4 slice of the pizza has been taken away. Now, check your correctness of fraction by adding these two, and we get 1/4 + 3/4 = 4/4 = 1. Further, based upon the size of the pizza, you can divide it into as many slices (parts) you want.

2. What is Another Name For a Common Denominator?

Answer: Another practicable name for the common denominator in mathematics is the common divisor. In addition, depending upon the denominators, the common denominator can be the LCM (Least Common Multiple) of the two denominators. Moreover, if one denominator is the factor of another denominator, then we can consider the bigger number as the least common denominator.