What is 1/4 + 2/12?

Here's how you add

Step 1

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

12 goes into 4 evenly, so we only need to multiply one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 1 by 3, and get 3, then we multiply 4 by 3 and get 12.

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

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

3 + 2 = 5

Answer:

Step 3

Now, do we need to simplify this fraction?

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

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 1/4 + 2/12