Definition of common denominator

The term "common denominator" in mathematics refers to a common factor that can be canceled out when adding or subtracting fractions with different denominators. In simpler terms, it's a number that two or more fractions share as their bottom part. The concept of a common denominator is crucial in solving mathematics problems that involve adding or subtracting fractions with different denominators. By finding the lowest common multiple (LCM) of the denominators, which is the smallest number that is a multiple of both, we can convert all fractions to a common denominator, making it easier to add or subtract them. The term "common denominator" itself is a combination of two words: "common" is used here to mean "shared," while "denominator" pertains to the bottom part of a fraction that denotes how many parts make up a whole. So essentially, a common denominator is the number that two or more fractions have in common as their bottom parts, making it easier to compare and manipulate them during calculations.