FIND LCM THEN ADD

To find the least common multiple (LCM) of the denominators 3, 9, and 8, we can break them down into their prime factors.

3 is ,
9 is ,
and 8 is .

The LCM is formed by taking the highest powers of each prime, which gives us .

Now we can rewrite each fraction with the common denominator of 72:

Now, we add them:

So, the final answer is .

Did you know that understanding LCM isn’t just about math homework? It’s a fantastic tool for real-world applications, like scheduling events or solving problems involving repeating cycles. Whether you’re planning a party to coincide with a friend’s birthday or figuring out how often you’ll see your favorite series on TV, LCM can help coordinate timings like a pro!

Also, when adding fractions, one common mistake is to add the numerators directly without adjusting to a common denominator first. That can lead to errors, as seen in the earlier steps! Remember, always convert to the same denominator before performing operations. It’s a little trick that keeps the math clean and correct.