math help

What is 10/6 + 6/12?

What is 10/6 + 6/12?

This is how to add

10
6
+
6
12

Step 1

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

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

Multiply 10 by 2, and get 20, then we multiply 6 by 2 and get 12.

10/6 times 2

The problem now has new fractions to add:

20
12
+
6
12

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

20 + 6 = 26

This yields the answer

26
12

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:

26
12
÷ 2 =
13
6

Now, try the same number again.

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

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

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

No good. 7 is larger than 6. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 10/6 + 6/12

10
6
+
6
12
=
13
6
© 2014 Randy Tayler