In
mathematics, the Lowest or Least Common Denominator (abbreviated LCD) is the
least common multiple of the denominators of a set of fractions. It simplifies
adding, subtracting, and comparing fractions.
What is the Denominator? It’s the
bottom number in a fraction and shows how many equal parts the item is divided
into. For example:
What
is a Common Denominator? When the
denominators of two or more fractions are the same, they have Common
Denominators. When the denominators are
the same we can add or subtract easily, however, when those jokers are
different, we are stuck. I mean stuck
like gorilla glue mixed with fast drying cement. We can’t go up, down, left or right, nothing,
nada, until we find the Least Common Denominator, which is the smallest of all
the possible common denominators. How do
we find it? It will take some work and
persistence, especially when you first start off, but if you follow the basic
principles you will find it so you can move on.
One
of the first steps is determining what the two denominators have in common. At times, it may be obvious but there may be
times when it is not, that’s when you have to dig your heels in and do some
work. The more you use the principles,
the easier it will become to find what you are looking for as long as you resist
the temptation of becoming frustrated, angry or giving up.
Tania
Not Tanya moment: Some of you are
sitting on the edge of your seat, car, bed or wherever you are right now. I can see you in my sanctified imagination
putting on your steel toe boots, buckling your seat and/or securing your wig
because you know we’re about to embark on an adventure that will be full of
bumps, twists and turns that may cause you to hang on for dear life, brace
yourselves or grab your wig. But, there
are a few rolling your eyes, sucking your teeth, and/or wondering whether I’m
going to waste your time talking about math while making you re-live the
nightmares you experienced trying to learn fractions. Well guess what, Shugga, you’re right in
part, so, grab a cup of coffee or tea, clear your mind and “read on”, or not,
it’s left up to you.
Now,
let’s hop back on the train so we can get to our destination. I have a confession to make. Up until about
six months ago, I would have checked out mentally too if someone was trying to
get me to read about fractions. But
because I am coming to the end of my college algebra course, this stuff makes
sense to me. As I thought about the
principals, believe it or not, I had a God-moment about adults who
co-parent. Huh? Hold on, hold on. It will make sense just bear with me.
What
do I mean by co-parenting? Wikipedia defines
it as: a parenting situation where the
parents are not in a marriage, cohabitation, or romantic relationship with one
another. In the United States, "co-parenting" often describes a parenting
situation in which a couple separated {for whatever reason} or divorced parents
take care of their children. My addendum
to this definition for urban communities could also be a couple (teenagers,
adults, a combination of the two) which had sex (regardless of romance) that
resulted in conception. Because of that
single act and/or regardless to whether they intended to conceive or not, an innocent
child is born and at times used like a ping pong ball. OK, I now I just lost some of you because no
one really plays that game anymore. How
about a tennis ball? Now I know some rural and urban folks don’t engage in
tennis, but surely you know of Serena Williams, the Queen of Tennis. She’s the woman that has mastered the game in
which she and her opponent (who almost always loses to the Queen of Tennis)
whack a small ball back and forth from their home court to their opponent’s
home court. Ring any bells?
Great
now let’s go deeper. Because there are
so many different scenarios that could have resulted in conception, let’s go
with a divorced couple, we’ll call them Jack and Jill. They got married, conceived and planned to
live happily ever after until the reality of life slapped them upside the head.
They believed that a divorce would solve
their problems, but they have intensified somewhat. They cannot stand each other but are forced
to interact at least weekly as they share custody of their three children. The drama associated with their relationship
is somewhat mild compared to some people I know but it goes a little like this: Neither of the parents want to listen to each
other even when the suggestions are logical because they have both become
bitter for far too many reasons that I care to list (just use your imagination). They are both dating, but the people they are
dating seem to be more like victims vs. significant others. They are playing all the classic bitter
divorcee games: interrogating the
children about what happens in the home of the absent parent, talking
negatively about the absent parent in front of the children, Jack often uses
the children as ransom when Jill is late with the child support payments, Jill
takes Jack to court for everything you can think of, they are both intent on being
right and in doing so don’t realize the toxic environment they are creating for
their innocent children. They blind
to the emotional turmoil their children are experiencing. For example:
- They blame Jack, Jr’s chronic stomachaches with poor eating habits
- They are both in denial about Jason and Jack, Jr.’s behavioral challenges -- that can be traced back to the divorce, and
- They are ignoring 13 year old Jenise’s consistent bedwetting
To
make matters worse, Jack and Jill confess to be Christians. Believe it or not they worshipped at the same
church until it got so ugly that Jill decided to leave. The straw that broke the camel’s back was
when Mother Knawuddamean walked up to Jill during praise and worship and accused
of her of this, that and being a Jezebel among other things. She even insinuated that if Jill had taken
care of her husband in the bedroom, kept her mouth shut and stayed at home to
take care of her children “like a good wife is supposed to do” none of this
would have happened. Now, er’body knows
that Mother Knawuddamean is a little “special”, elevator does not go to the
top, but she was as wrong as two left shoes and no one came to her rescue so she
politely gathered her things, walked out the church and never returned.
Tania
Not Tanya moment: I just saw God in my
sanctified imagination close his eyes, let his head fall back on the headrest
portion of his throne, sigh with disappointment as he uttered: “for real? Yawl gonna cut up like that? Umph, umph, umph.”
I
hear you, Tania, that’s fine and well but what does that have to do with
algebra and the Least Common Denominator.
Hold your horses, I’m getting there, but wouldn’t you know it. I’m completely out of time, so we’ll have to
pick it up again in the next few days.
Tania
Not Tanya
Servant
Author Teacher
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