math help

What is 22/60 + 4/12?

What is 22/60 + 4/12?

Here's how to add

22
60
+
4
12

Step 1

We have to make sure the denominators are equal.

Since 12 is evenly divided by 60, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 4 by 5, and get 20, then we multiply 12 by 5 and get 60.

4/12 times 5

The problem now has new fractions to add:

22
60
+
20
60

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

22 + 20 = 42

This yields the answer

42
60

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:

42
60
÷ 2 =
21
30

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:

21
30
÷ 3 =
7
10

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...

No good. 11 is larger than 7. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 22/60 + 4/12

22
60
+
4
12
=
7
10
© 2014 Randy Tayler