Least common denominator fractions with variables calculator

On this page is a least or lowest common denominator calculator. Enter fractions or positive integers, and the tool will return the lowest common denominator (LCD) of each term and list the new form of each number in the results.

Looking for another close tool? Try one of these instead:

  • Least Common Multiple Calculator
  • Greatest Common Factor Calculator
  • Fraction Simplifying Calculator

Lowest Common Denominator (LCD) Calculator

What is the Least or Lowest Common Denominator (LCD)?

The least or lowest common denominator (LCD) is the smallest number which is a multiple of every denominator in the set. Expressing each fraction or number in a set in terms of a common denominator simplifies math on those numbers.

The lowest common denominator is sometimes – but not always – the product of every denominator. Other times, it is one of the denominators already in the set.

Finding the Lowest Common Denominator

Let's find the LCD – using a brute force multiplication method – for the 4 numbers included in the tool: 2/3, 10, 12/5, and 4.

(Note that we can rewrite the integers as fractions over '1': 2/3, 10/1, 12/5, and 4/1.)

Strip the denominators out and multiply:

3*1*5*1=15

Now, rewrite each fraction with a denominator of 15. (Multiplying the numerator and denominator by the same amount):

\frac{2}{3}=\frac{10}{15}\\\frac{10}{1}=\frac{150}{15}\\\frac{12}{5}=\frac{36}{15}\\\frac{4}{1}=\frac{60}{15}

At this point, you can now reduce each fraction by finding common factors. However, you can't here – 36, 10, 150, and 60 share no factors other than 1.

Using the Lowest Common Denominator Calculator

In the text box, enter your list of numbers to find the lowest common factor. You can enter whole numbers, fractions (using '/'), negatives, and decimals – but fractions and positive numbers make the most sense.

Next, press the Compute LCD button. We'll return the Lowest Common Denominator and the total count of numbers we understood..

Enjoyed this? Visit our other calculators and tools. Also see our factor calculator and prime factorization calculator.

PK

PK started DQYDJ in 2009 to research and discuss finance and investing and help answer financial questions. He's expanded DQYDJ to build visualizations, calculators, and interactive tools.

PK is in his mid-30s and works and lives in the Bay Area with his wife, two kids, and dog.


This online Least Common Denominator Calculator (or LCD calculator) finds the least common denominator of fractions and integers. Enter the set of numbers in the input field of the calculator and click the ‘Calculate’ button. You can paste the input data copied from a spreadsheet or csv-file or enter manually using comma, space or enter as separators. You can choose the separator type to be used in the output set of rewritten with the least common denominator fractions (comma or space). Note, that all the fractions should be presented in the form integer1/integer2 with no spaces in between. In case of mixed numbers (mixed fractions) they should be expressed in the form of improper fractions.


Fractional Numbers

LCD:

Separator: Comma   Space

Rewritten Fractions


Least Common Denominator

In mathematics, the least common denominator or the lowest common denominator (LCD) is the lowest common multiple of the denominators of a set of fractions. Finding the LCD is important because all fractions need to have the same denominator when you are doing addition, subtraction or comparing operations with them.

In this Least Common Denominator Calculator we find the lowest common multiple (LCM) of the denominators using the same algorithm as in our Least Common Multiple Calculator. This number is the same as the least common denominator. Then all the input numbers (fractions) are rewritten using this LCD or, as they say, are reduced to a common denominator. Mixed numbers (mixed fractions) and integers are expressed in the form of improper fractions.

Check out our other math calculators such as Greatest Common Divisor Calculator or Simplify Fraction Calculator.


LCD calculator uses two or more fractions, integers or mixed numbers and calculates the least common denominator, i.e. the smallest positive integer which is divisible by each denominators of these numbers. It is an online mathematical tool specially programmed to find out the least common denominator for fractions with different or unequal denominators.
It is necessary to follow the next steps:

  1. Enter two or more numbers in the box. These numbers must be fractions, integers or mixed numbers and may be separated by commas. The numbers can be copied from a text document or a spreadsheet;
  2. Press the "GENERATE WORK" button to make the computation;
  3. Common denominator calculator will give the LCD of two or more different or unequal denominators of fractions.

Input: Two or more fractions, integers or mixed numbers;
Output: The least common denominator is an integer number.

The common denominator calculator determines the least common denominator as the least common multiple of two or more integers using the prime factorization.

How to Find LCD?

In order to find the LCD, firstly we convert all integers and mixed fractions into fractions. Then we find the LCM of the denominators. The result is the LCD and each fraction should be written as an equivalent fraction with the same LCD.
In some problems it is required to evaluate algebraic expressions. These problems can be solved by finding the least common denominator of two or more rational expressions fractions. For example, the least common denominator of rational expressions fractions $\frac{1}{4xy}$ and $\frac{1}{2x^2y}$ is $4x^2y$.In general, the least common denominator can be a number, a variable or a combination of numbers and variables. To find LCM two or more numbers, please refer to LCM calculator. Here, we will show how to find the LCD of $\frac{4}{5},\frac{6}{8},\frac{13}{11},\frac{2}{10}$ using the prime factorization. Therefore, it is necessary to find the LCM(5, 8, 11, 10).
Since every integer greater than 1 can be factored uniquely into primes, we obtain:
$$\begin{align}&5=5={\color{blue}5^1}\\ &8=2\times 2\times 2={\color{blue}{2^3}}\\ &11=11={\color{blue}{11^1}}\\ &10=2\times 5={2^1\times\color{blue}{5^1}}\end{align}$$ By multiplying the greatest power of 2, 11 and 5 form these factorizations, the LCM of 5, 8, 11, 10 is equal to the LCM of $\frac{4}{5},\frac{6}{8},\frac{13}{11},\frac{2}{10}.$ It means,

LCM(5, 8, 11, 10) = 51 x 23 x 111= 440 = LCD(4/5, 6/8, 13/11, 2/10)

If we rewrite the original inputs as equivalent fractions using the LCD, we obtain the fractions $$\frac{352}{440}, \frac{330}{440}, \frac{520}{440}, \frac{88}{440}$$ The common denominator work with steps shows the complete step-by-step calculation for finding the least common denominator of a given set of numbers: $\frac{4}{5},\frac{6}{8},\frac{13}{11},\frac{2}{10}$ using the prime factorization. For any other set of numbers, just supply the list of numbers and click on the Generate Work button. The grade school students may use this common denominator to generate the work, verify the results of adding, subtracting, or comparing fractions, derived by hand or do their homework problems efficiently.

LCD Practice Problems

Practice Problem 1:
Find the common denominator of $\frac{1}{72}$ and $12\frac{1}{8}$.

Practice Problem 2:
Three persons, $A,B$ and $C$, paint a room together in 5 hours. The person $A$ paints the room alone in 9 hours. The person $B$ paints the room alone in 11 hours. Find the time needed for the person $C$ to paint the room.

The common denominator calculator, formula, step by step calculation, real world problems and practice problems would be very useful for grade school students (K-12 education) to learn how to find the LCD of two or more fractions, integers or mixed numbers. It can help in many math problems, particularly in adding, subtracting, or comparing fractions.