math help

What is 12/1 + 7/11?

What is 12/1 + 7/11?

This is how we add

12
1
+
7
11

Step 1

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

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

Multiply 12 by 11, and get 132, then we multiply 1 by 11 and get 11.

12/1 times 11

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

132
11
+
7
11

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

132 + 7 = 139

That gives us the sum, which is

139
11

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...

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

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

Nope. Try the next prime number, 11...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 13...

No good. 13 is larger than 11. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 12/1 + 7/11

12
1
+
7
11
=
139
11
© 2014 Randy Tayler