Write 5/8 and 9/14 so that they have a comon denominatr

35/56 and 36/56

first find writ out all of the multiples of each

8: 8,16,24,32,40,48,56,64,72,80 ...

14: 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84,98, 112 ...

next find the number that each of them have in common

8: 8,16,24,32,40,48,56,64,72,80 ...

14: 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84,98, 112 ...

then set up a proportion to look like this

8: 5/8=x/56 (cross multiply) x=35

14: 9/14=x/56 (cross multiply) x=36

lastly make 56 your denominators and the x's your numerator ... your end result should be:

35/56 and 36/56

The denominator is the bottom portion of the fraction. Example 4/6, the 6 is the denominator. The easiest way to start out in finding the common denominator is to see what number, 8 and 14, go into equally. Example: 1/4 and 1/3, 3 and 4 both go into 12. If you multiply 4 by 3 as well as 3 by 4 you get 12 both times. Now try it with 8 and 14.

What number can 8 and 14 go into equally? (56)

8x7=56 ... 14x4=56