mixed numbers to improper fractions

Question

Can someone explain how to convert mixed numbers to improper fractions? for example

1 and 5/8

Answer 1

You can look at this as two seprate parts. Rewrite this as 1 + 5/8. Next convert 1 to a fraction by putting it over 1. You can rewrite this as

 1       5

--- +  ---

 1       8

Now we can add but we need to find a common denominator. In this case, 8 is the lowest common denominator so we can again rewrite this as

8       5

--- + ---

8       8

Then just add the fractions and you get

13/8