Examples.

2. Reduce 44 to an improper fraction.
3. Reduce 3% to an improper fraction.
4. Reduce 563 to an improper fraction.

20

5. Reduce 1236 to an improper fraction. Ans. 24722. 6. Reduce 5 to an improper fraction.

8. Reduce 13313 to an improper fraction. 9. Reduce 563 to an improper fraction. 10. Reduce 80061 to an improper fraction.

11. Reduce 24 to fourths.
12. Reduce 35 to twentieths.

13. Reduce 312 to twelfths.
14. Reduce 19 to twenty-fifths.

15. Reduce 1008 to ninths.

ART. 28. To reduce compound fractions to simple ones.

Ex. 1. Reduce of

to a simple fraction.

4×5of

== Ans.

Explanation.—} of

and if of is, of

5×5

is 4 times, or = Ans. This is in effect multiplying the numerators together and also the denominators.

RULE.

Multiply the numerators together for the numerator of the simple fraction, and the denominators together for its denominator.

Note. If there are whole or mixed numbers, first reduce them to improper fractions.

8. Reduce of 21 of 3 to a simple fraction.

CANCELLATION.

ART. 29. The above operations may be abbreviated by indicating the multiplications to be performed, and then cancelling the factors common to both terms, as shown in the following examples.

2. Reduce of of of of; of 1 to a simple fraction.

Note.-1 remains as a factor in the numerator.

5. Reduce of of of 1% of 12 to a simple fraction.

14

Ans. 33. 6. Reduce of 3 of 1 of 1 of 1 of 7 to a simple fraction. Remark. The principle of cancellation may often be used with great advantage. Whenever, to obtain a certain result, several multiplications and divisions are to be performed, indicate the operations and cancel the factors common to the multipliers and divisors.

7. Divide the product of 24, 163, 8, 331 by 12, 163, and 663.

8. Multiply 48, 32, 5280 and 27 together, and divide the

result by 16, 264, 54 and 6.

Ans. 160.

9. How many cords of wood in a pile 144 feet long, 12 feet high and 3 feet wide?

10. Multiply 9, 8, 18, 45, 36, 90, 81 together and divide the result by 72, 180, 27, 24, 4 and 18.

Ans. 255.

ART. 30. To reduce fractions to a common denominator. and to equivalent fractions

Ex. 1. Reduce,,, having a common denominator.

13

20 16

24

18 5

249

20 2

Solution. First Method.-It is evident upon a little inspection that each of the fractions can be changed to twentyfourths. According to Art, 24, 3=11, 1=11, 8=31, 3=!1, and Hence,,, and are respectively equal to 1, 1, 1, 1 and, fractions having a common denominator. Second Method.-The least common multiple of 4, 8, 6, 3 and 12 (denominators) found by Art. 22, is 24, which, being divided by 4, 8, 6, 3 and 12 respectively, give the multipliers by which both terms of their respective fractions are to be =11, 5x3=14, 6x4=3, 2=1, and 7x2=

multiplied. 14.

3X6
4 X 6

18 X
247
X

249

5

X

20
249

8 3

247

12X2

RULE FOR SECOND METHOD.-Find the least common multiple of the denominators. Then divide the least common multiple by the denominator of each fraction and multiply both of its terms by the quotient.

Note. The first method is the one generally used. In ordinary examples, the common denominator can be seen at a glance.

Examples.

Reduce the following fractions to equivalent fractions having a common denominator.

ADDITION OF COMMON FRACTIONS.

ART. 31. Ex. 1. What is the sum of,, and 7?

Reduce the fractions to a common denominator; then add their numerators, and under their sum place the common denominator.

Notes.-1. First reduce mixed numbers to improper fractions, and compound fractions to simple ones.

2. The integers may be set aside and subsequently added to the sum of the fractions.

Reduce the fractions to a common denominator; then subtract their numerators, and under the result place the common denominator.

Note.-Mixed numbers may be subtracted without reducing