math help

What is 5/6 + 7/12?

What is 5/6 + 7/12?

This is how you add

5
6
+
7
12

Step 1

Now we need to make our denominators match.

Since 6 is evenly divided by 12, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 5 by 2, and get 10, then we multiply 6 by 2 and get 12.

5/6 times 2

The problem now has new fractions to add:

10
12
+
7
12

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

10 + 7 = 17

The sum we get is

17
12

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...

No good. 13 is larger than 12. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 5/6 + 7/12

5
6
+
7
12
=
17
12
© 2014 Randy Tayler