math help

What is 24/26 + 2/6?

What is 24/26 + 2/6?

This is how you add

24
26
+
2
6

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 6, and get 144, then we multiply 26 by 6 and get 156.

24/26 times 6

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 2 by 26, and get 52, then multiply 26 by 6 and get 156.

2/6 times 26

The problem now has new fractions to add:

144
156
+
52
156

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

144 + 52 = 196

This yields the answer

196
156

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:

196
156
÷ 2 =
98
78

Now, try the same number again.

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

98
78
÷ 2 =
49
39

Now, try the same number again.

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

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

Nope. Try the next prime number, 7...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 11...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 13...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 17...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 19...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 23...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 29...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 31...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 37...

Nope. Try the next prime number, 41...

No good. 41 is larger than 39. So we're done reducing.

Congratulations! Here's your final answer to 24/26 + 2/6

24
26
+
2
6
=
49
39
© 2014 Randy Tayler