math help

What is 20/64 + 2/12?

What is 20/64 + 2/12?

Here's how to add

20
64
+
2
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 20 by 12, and get 240, then we multiply 64 by 12 and get 768.

20/64 times 12

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 64, and get 128, then multiply 64 by 12 and get 768.

2/12 times 64

The problem now has new fractions to add:

240
768
+
128
768

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

240 + 128 = 368

This yields the answer

368
768

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:

368
768
÷ 2 =
184
384

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

184
384
÷ 2 =
92
192

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

92
192
÷ 2 =
46
96

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

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

46
96
÷ 2 =
23
48

So far so good... let's try to divide by that number again.

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 3...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 5...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 7...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 11...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 13...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 17...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 19...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 23...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 29...

No good. 29 is larger than 23. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 20/64 + 2/12

20
64
+
2
12
=
23
48
© 2014 Randy Tayler