You need to convert the mixed numbers to inproper fractions first. Do this by multiplying the whole number by the bottom of the fraction and then adding that to the top of the fraction like this:
2 2/3 = 2 times 3 Plus 2 over 3
8/3
1 3/8 = 1 times 8 plus 3 over 8
11/8
So now we have two fractions to add together
8/3 + 11/8
The problem is that they have different denominators. The bottom numbers need to be the same.
We need to find a common denominator. To do this we need to know the lowest number that both 3 and 8 will go even into without a remainder
we know it has to be at least 8 but 3 does not go evenly into 8 so we try the next multiple of 8 which is 16. Still 3 does not go into 16 so the next multiple of 8 is 24 which does go into 3. That is our common denominator.
8*? 11 *?
------- + ------
24 24
Now we need to multiply the top number of each fraction by the same number that we used to get 24 on the bottom.
for the first fraction 3 times what is 24. . .8
take that and multiply it by the top then do the same for the second fraction. . .8 times. . .3 is 24
8*8 11*3
------ + --------
24 24
Now we can simplify this to 64/24 + 33/24
then just add the top two numbers together. The bottom stays the same
97/24
You can leave it that way or you can can covert it back to a mixed number by dividing 97 by 24 and putting the remainder over 24
24 goes into 97 4 times with a remainder of 1
so we can also write this as
4 1/24
