math help

What is 10/3 + 9/12?

What is 10/3 + 9/12?

This is how to add

10
3
+
9
12

Step 1

Our denominators (bottom numbers) don't match, so we can't add yet.

Since 3 is evenly divided by 12, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 10 by 4, and get 40, then we multiply 3 by 4 and get 12.

10/3 times 4

The problem now has new fractions to add:

40
12
+
9
12

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

40 + 9 = 49

This yields the answer

49
12

Step 3

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

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

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

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

Nope. Try the next prime number, 7...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 11...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 13...

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

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 10/3 + 9/12

10
3
+
9
12
=
49
12
© 2014 Randy Tayler