math help

What is 24/12 + 2/9?

What is 24/12 + 2/9?

Here's how you add

24
12
+
2
9

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 24 by 9, and get 216, then we multiply 12 by 9 and get 108.

24/12 times 9

Now for the second term. You multiply 2 by 12, and get 24, then multiply 12 by 9 and get 108.

2/9 times 12

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

216
108
+
24
108

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

216 + 24 = 240

That gives us the sum, which is

240
108

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:

240
108
÷ 2 =
120
54

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:

120
54
÷ 2 =
60
27

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:

60
27
÷ 3 =
20
9

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 9. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 24/12 + 2/9

24
12
+
2
9
=
20
9
© 2014 Randy Tayler