math help

What is 12/1 + 3/10?

What is 12/1 + 3/10?

Here's how you add

12
1
+
3
10

Step 1

We have to make sure the denominators are equal.

Since 1 is evenly divided by 10, we can multiply just 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

The problem now has new fractions to add:

120
10
+
3
10

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

120 + 3 = 123

This yields the answer

123
10

Step 3

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

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

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. 11 is larger than 10. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 12/1 + 3/10

12
1
+
3
10
=
123
10
© 2014 Randy Tayler