a: \(\dfrac{17}{12}+\dfrac{29}{7}-\dfrac{8}{7}+\dfrac{7}{12}\)
\(=\left(\dfrac{17}{12}+\dfrac{7}{12}\right)+\left(\dfrac{29}{7}-\dfrac{8}{7}\right)\)
\(=\dfrac{24}{12}+\dfrac{21}{7}=2+3=5\)
b: \(\dfrac{2}{5}+\dfrac{6}{9}+\dfrac{7}{4}+\dfrac{3}{5}+\dfrac{1}{4}+\dfrac{1}{3}\)
\(=\left(\dfrac{2}{5}+\dfrac{3}{5}\right)+\left(\dfrac{6}{9}+\dfrac{1}{3}\right)+\left(\dfrac{1}{4}+\dfrac{7}{4}\right)\)
\(=1+1+2=4\)