math help

What is 16/48 + 7/8?

What is 16/48 + 7/8?

This is how you add

16
48
+
7
8

Step 1

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

48 goes into 8 evenly, so we only need to multiply one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 7 by 6, and get 42, then we multiply 8 by 6 and get 48.

7/8 times 6

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

16
48
+
42
48

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

16 + 42 = 58

That gives us the sum, which is

58
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:

58
48
÷ 2 =
29
24

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...

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

Nope. Try the next prime number, 17...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 19...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 23...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 29...

No good. 29 is larger than 24. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 16/48 + 7/8

16
48
+
7
8
=
29
24
© 2014 Randy Tayler