math help

What is 12/1 + 3/9?

What is 12/1 + 3/9?

Here's how we add

12
1
+
3
9

Step 1

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

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

Multiply 12 by 9, and get 108, then we multiply 1 by 9 and get 9.

12/1 times 9

This gives us a new problem that looks like so:

108
9
+
3
9

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

108 + 3 = 111

That gives us an answer of

111
9

Step 3

Can this fraction be reduced?

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:

111
9
÷ 3 =
37
3

Now, try the same number again.

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

No good. 5 is larger than 3. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 12/1 + 3/9

12
1
+
3
9
=
37
3
© 2014 Randy Tayler