What does the phrase "lowest common denominator" mean? And how do we use it in a sentence?

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tnx

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

A fraction is a division of two numbers. The denominator is the number written under the line (divisor), and the numerator is the number written above the line (the dividend).

If you have two fractions, there are two denominators and two numerators.
To add two fractions together, they must have the same denominator. If they have the same denominator, you can just add the numerators to get the result.
So you have to find a denominator that is common to both fractions, and that is the smallest of all possible denominators. That number is the least (smallest) common (belonging to both) denominator.

For example, you want to add these two fractions
1/3
1/6

The denominators are 3 and 6. They are not the same, so you can't add these fractions.

One common denominator is 18. 1/3 = 6/18, 1/6 = 3/18 and the result (3+6) is 9/18.
But 18 is not the smallest denominator, because 6 is a denominator, too. It is the least common denominator.
1/3 = 2/6
2/6 + 1/6 = 3/6

Enoon · Answer

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What does the phrase "lowest common denominator" mean? And how do we use it in a sentence?

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