math help

What is 11/12 + 2/5?

What is 11/12 + 2/5?

This is how you add

11
12
+
2
5

Step 1

Of course, you can't add two fractions if the denominators (bottom numbers) don't match. To get a common denominator, multiply the denominators together. Then we fix the numerators by multiplying each one by their other term's denominator.

Now you multiply 11 by 5, and get 55, then we multiply 12 by 5 and get 60.

11/12 times 5

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 12, and get 24, then multiply 12 by 5 and get 60.

2/5 times 12

The problem now has new fractions to add:

55
60
+
24
60

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

55 + 24 = 79

The sum we get is

79
60

Step 3

The last step is to reduce the fraction if we can.

To find out, we try dividing it by 2...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 7...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 11...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 13...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 17...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 19...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 23...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 29...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 31...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 37...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 41...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 43...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 47...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 53...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 59...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 61...

No good. 61 is larger than 60. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 11/12 + 2/5

11
12
+
2
5
=
79
60
© 2014 Randy Tayler