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When adding or subtracting fractions, the first step is to find the common denominator. This is essential because fractions can only be added or subtracted directly when they share the same denominator. The common denominator allows you to combine the fractions seamlessly, maintaining their value through equivalent fractions.

Using the least common denominator ensures that the fractions are expressed as equivalent fractions with a shared base, which facilitates the arithmetic process. Once you have the common denominator, you can adjust the numerators accordingly and perform the operation of addition or subtraction.

In contrast, focusing on the least common multiple or the product of the denominators might lead you to a solution, but it does not directly address the necessity of a common denominator for straightforward addition or subtraction of the fractions. The sum of the numerators is the final step in the process after establishing that shared denominator, not a prerequisite.