math help

What is 16/48 + 2/8?

What is 16/48 + 2/8?

Here's how we add

16
48
+
2
8

Step 1

We have to make sure the denominators are equal.

Since 8 is evenly divided by 48, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 2 by 6, and get 12, then we multiply 8 by 6 and get 48.

2/8 times 6

The problem now has new fractions to add:

16
48
+
12
48

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

16 + 12 = 28

This yields the answer

28
48

Step 3

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

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

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

28
48
÷ 2 =
14
24

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

14
24
÷ 2 =
7
12

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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 7. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 16/48 + 2/8

16
48
+
2
8
=
7
12
© 2014 Randy Tayler