math help

What is 1/14 + 7/12?

What is 1/14 + 7/12?

This is how to add

1
14
+
7
12

Step 1

Of course, you can't add two fractions if the denominators (bottom numbers) don't match. To get a common denominator, multiply the denominators together. Then we fix the numerators by multiplying each one by their other term's denominator.

Now you multiply 1 by 12, and get 12, then we multiply 14 by 12 and get 168.

1/14 times 12

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 7 by 14, and get 98, then multiply 14 by 12 and get 168.

7/12 times 14

The problem now has new fractions to add:

12
168
+
98
168

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

12 + 98 = 110

This yields the answer

110
168

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:

110
168
÷ 2 =
55
84

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...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 31...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 37...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 41...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 43...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 47...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 53...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 59...

No good. 59 is larger than 55. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 1/14 + 7/12

1
14
+
7
12
=
55
84
© 2014 Randy Tayler