math help

What is 24/12 + 6/8?

What is 24/12 + 6/8?

Let's add

24
12
+
6
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 6 by 12, and get 72, then multiply 12 by 8 and get 96.

6/8 times 12

The problem now has new fractions to add:

192
96
+
72
96

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

192 + 72 = 264

This yields the answer

264
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:

264
96
÷ 2 =
132
48

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:

132
48
÷ 2 =
66
24

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:

66
24
÷ 2 =
33
12

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:

33
12
÷ 3 =
11
4

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. 5 is larger than 4. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 24/12 + 6/8

24
12
+
6
8
=
11
4
© 2014 Randy Tayler