math help

What is 24/12 + 2/8?

What is 24/12 + 2/8?

Here's how we add

24
12
+
2
8

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 24 by 8, and get 192, then we multiply 12 by 8 and get 96.

24/12 times 8

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 12, and get 24, then multiply 12 by 8 and get 96.

2/8 times 12

The problem now has new fractions to add:

192
96
+
24
96

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

192 + 24 = 216

The sum we get is

216
96

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:

216
96
÷ 2 =
108
48

Now, try the same number again.

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

108
48
÷ 2 =
54
24

Now, try the same number again.

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

54
24
÷ 2 =
27
12

Now, try the same number again.

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

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

27
12
÷ 3 =
9
4

Now, try the same number again.

Nope. Try the next prime number, 5...

No good. 5 is larger than 4. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 24/12 + 2/8

24
12
+
2
8
=
9
4
© 2014 Randy Tayler