math help

What is 12/1 + 2/10?

What is 12/1 + 2/10?

Here's how we add

12
1
+
2
10

Step 1

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

10 goes into 1 evenly, so we only need to multiply one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 12 by 10, and get 120, then we multiply 1 by 10 and get 10.

12/1 times 10

This gives us a new problem that looks like so:

120
10
+
2
10

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

120 + 2 = 122

That gives us an answer of

122
10

Step 3

Can this fraction be reduced?

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

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

122
10
÷ 2 =
61
5

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 5. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 12/1 + 2/10

12
1
+
2
10
=
61
5
© 2014 Randy Tayler