math help

What is 24/12 + 4/7?

What is 24/12 + 4/7?

Here's how you add

24
12
+
4
7

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 7, and get 168, then we multiply 12 by 7 and get 84.

24/12 times 7

Now for the second term. You multiply 4 by 12, and get 48, then multiply 12 by 7 and get 84.

4/7 times 12

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

168
84
+
48
84

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

168 + 48 = 216

That gives us the sum, which is

216
84

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:

216
84
÷ 2 =
108
42

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:

108
42
÷ 2 =
54
21

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:

54
21
÷ 3 =
18
7

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 24/12 + 4/7

24
12
+
4
7
=
18
7
© 2014 Randy Tayler