what is 1/3 + 1/5
What is 1/3 + 1/5?
To find the sum of \frac{1}{3} and \frac{1}{5}, we need to follow these steps:
1. Find a Common Denominator
The first step in adding fractions is to find a common denominator. The denominators in this case are 3 and 5. The least common multiple (LCM) of 3 and 5 is 15. This will be our common denominator.
2. Convert Each Fraction to the Common Denominator
To convert each fraction:
-
For \frac{1}{3}:
- Multiply both the numerator and the denominator by 5:
\frac{1}{3} \times \frac{5}{5} = \frac{5}{15} -
For \frac{1}{5}:
- Multiply both the numerator and the denominator by 3:
\frac{1}{5} \times \frac{3}{3} = \frac{3}{15}
3. Add the Fractions
Now that the fractions have the same denominator, we can add them by adding the numerators:
\frac{5}{15} + \frac{3}{15} = \frac{5 + 3}{15} = \frac{8}{15}
Conclusion
Thus, the sum of \frac{1}{3} and \frac{1}{5} is:
\frac{8}{15}
The final answer is \boxed{\frac{8}{15}}.