math help

What is 10/6 + 2/8?

What is 10/6 + 2/8?

Here's how you add

10
6
+
2
8

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 10 by 8, and get 80, then we multiply 6 by 8 and get 48.

10/6 times 8

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 6, and get 12, then multiply 6 by 8 and get 48.

2/8 times 6

The problem now has new fractions to add:

80
48
+
12
48

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

80 + 12 = 92

This yields the answer

92
48

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:

92
48
÷ 2 =
46
24

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

46
24
÷ 2 =
23
12

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 3...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 5...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 7...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 11...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 13...

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

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 10/6 + 2/8

10
6
+
2
8
=
23
12
© 2014 Randy Tayler