math help

What is 100/50 + 4/12?

What is 100/50 + 4/12?

Here's how you add

100
50
+
4
12

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 100 by 12, and get 1200, then we multiply 50 by 12 and get 600.

100/50 times 12

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 4 by 50, and get 200, then multiply 50 by 12 and get 600.

4/12 times 50

The problem now has new fractions to add:

1200
600
+
200
600

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

1200 + 200 = 1400

The sum we get is

1400
600

Step 3

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

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

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

1400
600
÷ 2 =
700
300

Now, try the same number again.

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

700
300
÷ 2 =
350
150

Now, try the same number again.

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

350
150
÷ 2 =
175
75

Now, try the same number again.

Nope. Try the next prime number, 3...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 5...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 5? Yes! So we reduce it:

175
75
÷ 5 =
35
15

Now, try the same number again.

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 5? Yes! So we reduce it:

35
15
÷ 5 =
7
3

Now, try the same number again.

No good. 5 is larger than 3. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 100/50 + 4/12

100
50
+
4
12
=
7
3
© 2014 Randy Tayler