What is 1/2 + 4/12?

Here's how you add

Step 1

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

12 goes into 2 evenly, so we only need to multiply one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 1 by 6, and get 6, then we multiply 2 by 6 and get 12.

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

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

6 + 4 = 10

Answer:

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:

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...

No good. 7 is larger than 5. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 1/2 + 4/12