math help

What is 24/5 + 1/12?

What is 24/5 + 1/12?

Here's how to add

24
5
+
1
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 5 by 12 and get 60.

24/5 times 12

Do the same for the second term. We multiply 1 by 5, and get 5, then multiply 5 by 12 and get 60.

1/12 times 5

The problem now has new fractions to add:

288
60
+
5
60

Step 2

Since our denominators match, we can add the numerators.

288 + 5 = 293

This yields the answer

293
60

Step 3

The last step is to reduce the fraction if we can.

To find out, we try dividing it by 2...

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...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 43...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 47...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 53...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 59...

Nope! So now we try the next greatest prime number, 61...

No good. 61 is larger than 60. So we're done reducing.

There you have it! Here's the final answer to 24/5 + 1/12

24
5
+
1
12
=
293
60
© 2014 Randy Tayler