math help

What is 24/12 + 7/11?

What is 24/12 + 7/11?

Here's how you add

24
12
+
7
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 7 by 12, and get 84, then multiply 12 by 11 and get 132.

7/11 times 12

The problem now has new fractions to add:

264
132
+
84
132

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

264 + 84 = 348

The sum we get is

348
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:

348
132
÷ 2 =
174
66

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

174
66
÷ 2 =
87
33

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 3...

Are both the numerator and the denominator evenly divisible by 3? Yes! So we reduce it:

87
33
÷ 3 =
29
11

Let's try dividing by that again...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 5...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 7...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 11...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 13...

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

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 24/12 + 7/11

24
12
+
7
11
=
29
11
© 2014 Randy Tayler