math help

What is 11/12 + 2/6?

What is 11/12 + 2/6?

This is how we add

11
12
+
2
6

Step 1

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

12 goes into 6 evenly, so we only need to multiply one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 2 by 2, and get 4, then we multiply 6 by 2 and get 12.

2/6 times 2

We now have a new problem, that looks like this:

11
12
+
4
12

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

11 + 4 = 15

That gives us the sum, which is

15
12

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

First, we attempt to divide it by 2...

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

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

15
12
÷ 3 =
5
4

Now, try the same number again.

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

No good. 5 is larger than 4. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 11/12 + 2/6

11
12
+
2
6
=
5
4
© 2014 Randy Tayler