math help

What is 24/12 + 8/10?

What is 24/12 + 8/10?

Here's how you add

24
12
+
8
10

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 10, and get 240, then we multiply 12 by 10 and get 120.

24/12 times 10

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 8 by 12, and get 96, then multiply 12 by 10 and get 120.

8/10 times 12

The problem now has new fractions to add:

240
120
+
96
120

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

240 + 96 = 336

The sum we get is

336
120

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:

336
120
÷ 2 =
168
60

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

168
60
÷ 2 =
84
30

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

84
30
÷ 2 =
42
15

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:

42
15
÷ 3 =
14
5

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...

No good. 7 is larger than 5. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 24/12 + 8/10

24
12
+
8
10
=
14
5
© 2014 Randy Tayler