Re: Adding Fractions

In article <sSnke.4875$X92.2435@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
W. Watson <wolf_tracks@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>Other than it works, is there an algebraic or some other explanation why we add
>fractions using the LCD method?

The only reason to do it that way is to use smaller numbers.

Pedagogically, one should make it very clear that a/b = ac/bc
if b and c are nonzero. Also, it is easy(?) to see that
x/z + y/z = (x+y)/z, so any common denominator will work.

If one objects to algebraic notation, I would NEVER consider
doing it otherwise. This notation is an important linguistic
part of mathematics, and has no mathematical content.
--
This address is for information only. I do not claim that these views
are those of the Statistics Department or of Purdue University.
Herman Rubin, Department of Statistics, Purdue University
hrubin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Phone: (765)494-6054 FAX: (765)494-0558
.

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