math help

What is 24/26 + 4/12?

What is 24/26 + 4/12?

This is how we add

24
26
+
4
12

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 12, and get 288, then we multiply 26 by 12 and get 312.

24/26 times 12

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 4 by 26, and get 104, then multiply 26 by 12 and get 312.

4/12 times 26

The problem now has new fractions to add:

288
312
+
104
312

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

288 + 104 = 392

This yields the answer

392
312

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:

392
312
÷ 2 =
196
156

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

196
156
÷ 2 =
98
78

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

98
78
÷ 2 =
49
39

Let's try dividing by that again...

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

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...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 17...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 19...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 23...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 29...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 31...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 37...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 41...

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

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 24/26 + 4/12

24
26
+
4
12
=
49
39
© 2014 Randy Tayler