Because the two terms differ in sign, the distance is the sum of the absolute values of the terms, so we first take the absolute values: 1/2 and 1 2/3.
Next, we convert the mixed number "1 2/3" into a fraction, 5/3.
Next, the two denominators must be converted to the "Least Common Denominator." Since 2 doesn't divide 3, and 3 doesn't divide 2, their LCD is the product of the denominators: 2*3 = 6. The two values are converted, by multiplying each value by the the necessary amount to make the LCD (that is, in this case, the other denominator): 1/2 becomes 3/6, and 5/3 becomes 10/6.
We add the two numerators, producing a new fraction, 13/6.
If required by the problem, we reduce this to the mixed number 2 1/6 by dividing 13 by 6, using the whole number part of the result as the whole number. art of the answer, and the remainder as th e numerator of the fractional part: 13 divided by. 6 is 2, remainder 1, so the whole number part is 2, while the fractional part's numerator is 1. (The denominator of the fraction is the LCD.)
