math help

What is 24/26 + 3/6?

What is 24/26 + 3/6?

This is how we add

24
26
+
3
6

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

24/26 times 6

Now for the second term. You multiply 3 by 26, and get 78, then multiply 26 by 6 and get 156.

3/6 times 26

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

144
156
+
78
156

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

144 + 78 = 222

Answer:

222
156

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:

222
156
÷ 2 =
111
78

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:

111
78
÷ 3 =
37
26

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. So next you try the next prime number, which is 13...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 17...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 19...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 23...

No good. So next you try the next prime number, which is 29...

No good. 29 is larger than 26. So we're done reducing.

And we're done! Here's the final answer to 24/26 + 3/6

24
26
+
3
6
=
37
26
© 2014 Randy Tayler