What is the sum of 1/2 and 1/4?

Study for the Praxis Elementary Education Mathmatics test (5003). Engage with flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question provides hints and detailed explanations to prepare you to excel on exam day!

To find the sum of 1/2 and 1/4, it is essential to have a common denominator. The fractions 1/2 and 1/4 can be expressed with a common denominator of 4.

First, convert 1/2 to a fraction with a denominator of 4. This can be done by multiplying both the numerator and the denominator of 1/2 by 2, resulting in 2/4. Now the equation looks like this:

2/4 + 1/4

Now, you can add the numerators since the denominators are the same:

2 + 1 = 3

So, the sum becomes:

3/4

Therefore, the correct answer is 3/4, which makes sense because when you add one half and one quarter, you exceed one half but do not reach one full, resulting in three quarters.