math help

What is 24/12 + 4/6?

What is 24/12 + 4/6?

Here's how we add

24
12
+
4
6

Step 1

Our denominators (bottom numbers) don't match, so we can't add yet.

Since 6 is evenly divided by 12, we can multiply just one term to get a common denominator.

Multiply 4 by 2, and get 8, then we multiply 6 by 2 and get 12.

4/6 times 2

The problem now has new fractions to add:

24
12
+
8
12

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

24 + 8 = 32

The sum we get is

32
12

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:

32
12
÷ 2 =
16
6

Now, try the same number again.

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

16
6
÷ 2 =
8
3

Now, try the same number again.

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

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

No good. 5 is larger than 3. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 24/12 + 4/6

24
12
+
4
6
=
8
3
© 2014 Randy Tayler