math help

What is 22/22 + 3/12?

What is 22/22 + 3/12?

This is how we add

22
22
+
3
12

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 22 by 12, and get 264, then we multiply 22 by 12 and get 264.

22/22 times 12

Now for the second term. You multiply 3 by 22, and get 66, then multiply 22 by 12 and get 264.

3/12 times 22

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

264
264
+
66
264

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

264 + 66 = 330

Answer:

330
264

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:

330
264
÷ 2 =
165
132

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...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

165
132
÷ 3 =
55
44

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 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...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 11? Yes! So we reduce it:

55
44
÷ 11 =
5
4

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

No good. 11 is larger than 5. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 22/22 + 3/12

22
22
+
3
12
=
5
4
© 2014 Randy Tayler