(3) Change 1/4 to have a denominator of 16 without changing the value of the fraction. (a) Multiply the A/B by 4 to make it 16: 1/4 x 4 => 1 x 4 and 4 x 4 => 4/16 (4) Change 3/8 to have the common denominator of 16.
    1. Multiply the A/B by 2 to make it 16.
3/8 x 2 => 3 x 2 and 8 x 2 => 6/16
  1. Therefore, the fractions 1/4, 3/8, and 5/16, when changed to have a common denominator, will be 4/16, 6/16, and 5/16, respectively.
 

***** When the denominators cannot be divided by the same number, find the smallest denominator into which each of the original denominators will divide evenly. In many cases, a common denominator can be found by multiplying one denominator by the other.

Example: Find the common denominator for 3/4 and 2/3. (1) Multiply denominators to get a common denominator.
4 x 3 =12 (Common denominator)
        1. Change the fraction 3/4 and 2/3 to have a denominator of 12.
3/4 x 3 => 3 x3 and 4 x 3 => 9/12

2/3 x 4 => 2 x 4 and 3 x 4 =>8/12

 (4) Therefore, the fractions 3/4 and 2/3, when changed to have the least common denominator, will be 9/12 and 8/12 respectively.
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