We are going to add 3/8 and 5/8. These fractions have the same denominator, which means we can add them directly by adding the numerators and keeping the denominator the same.
The denominator tells us how many equal parts make up the whole. In both fractions, the denominator is 8, which means the whole is divided into 8 equal parts. Each part represents 1/8 of the whole.
Let's visualize adding 3/8 and 5/8. We have two bars, each divided into 8 equal parts. In the first bar, we color 3 parts blue to represent 3/8. In the second bar, we color 5 parts green to represent 5/8. When we combine them, we get 8 colored parts out of 8 total parts, which gives us 8/8.
Now let's solve this algebraically. When adding fractions with the same denominator, we add the numerators and keep the denominator the same. So 3/8 plus 5/8 equals 3 plus 5 over 8, which is 8/8.
Let's simplify 8/8 to its simplest form. Any fraction where the numerator equals the denominator equals 1. So 8/8 equals 1. This makes sense because we have all 8 parts out of 8 parts, which represents the whole.
Let's look at a few more examples. Two-fifths plus one-fifth equals three-fifths. Four-sevenths plus two-sevenths equals six-sevenths. One-sixth plus three-sixths equals four-sixths, which simplifies to two-thirds. In each case, we add the numerators and keep the denominator the same.