math help

What is 16/48 + 3/12?

What is 16/48 + 3/12?

This is how you add

16
48
+
3
12

Step 1

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

48 goes into 12 evenly, so we only need to multiply one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 3 by 4, and get 12, then we multiply 12 by 4 and get 48.

3/12 times 4

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

16
48
+
12
48

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

16 + 12 = 28

That gives us the sum, which is

28
48

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

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

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

28
48
÷ 2 =
14
24

Now, try the same number again.

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

14
24
÷ 2 =
7
12

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...

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

No good. 11 is larger than 7. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 16/48 + 3/12

16
48
+
3
12
=
7
12
© 2014 Randy Tayler