math help

What is 24/12 + 3/11?

What is 24/12 + 3/11?

Let's add

24
12
+
3
11

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 11, and get 264, then we multiply 12 by 11 and get 132.

24/12 times 11

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 3 by 12, and get 36, then multiply 12 by 11 and get 132.

3/11 times 12

The problem now has new fractions to add:

264
132
+
36
132

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

264 + 36 = 300

This yields the answer

300
132

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:

300
132
÷ 2 =
150
66

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:

150
66
÷ 2 =
75
33

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:

75
33
÷ 3 =
25
11

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. So next you try the next prime number, which is 13...

No good. 13 is larger than 11. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 24/12 + 3/11

24
12
+
3
11
=
25
11
© 2014 Randy Tayler