What is 1/2 + 7/8?

Here's how we add

Step 1

Now we need to make our denominators match.

Since 2 is evenly divided by 8, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 1 by 4, and get 4, then we multiply 2 by 4 and get 8.

The problem now has new fractions to add:

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

4 + 7 = 11

This yields the answer

Step 3

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

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

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 7...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 11...

No good. 11 is larger than 8. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 1/2 + 7/8