math help

What is 1/6 + 4/8?

What is 1/6 + 4/8?

Here's how you add

1
6
+
4
8

Step 1

Can you add yet? Nope! The denominators don't match. We need a common denominator. So next we take both denominators and multiply them. Next, take each numerator and multiply it by the denominator of the other term.

So, we multiply 1 by 8, and get 8, then we multiply 6 by 8 and get 48.

1/6 times 8

Now for the second term. You multiply 4 by 6, and get 24, then multiply 6 by 8 and get 48.

4/8 times 6

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

8
48
+
24
48

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

8 + 24 = 32

Answer:

32
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:

32
48
÷ 2 =
16
24

Now, try the same number again.

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

16
24
÷ 2 =
8
12

Now, try the same number again.

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

8
12
÷ 2 =
4
6

Now, try the same number again.

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 2? Yes! So we reduce it:

4
6
÷ 2 =
2
3

Now, try the same number again.

Nope. Try the next prime number, 3...

No good. 3 is larger than 2. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 1/6 + 4/8

1
6
+
4
8
=
2
3
© 2014 Randy Tayler