What is 1/3 + 1/5

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}}.